Published

3 years ago

November 13, 2023

Alice Rush

From “The Story of Stuff”:

A legal complaint against Coca-Cola, Danone, and Nestlé has been issued by a consumer body and two environmental groups in Europe.

The complaint alleges the companies are misleading consumers into buying a product which is sold as being climate-friendly or sustainable, known as greenwashing, when it comes to their ‘100% recycled’ claims on single-use plastic water bottles.

The European Consumers Organization, backed by the environmental groups Client Earth and ECOS, claims the bottles are never made wholly of recycled materials. They say the ability to recycle them depends on a number of factors, including the tools available.

Coca-Cola said its packaging messages can be substantiated, Nestlé said it was cutting use of plastic packaging, and Danone said it was invested in recycling.

Every time I see something like this I think of the millions of people employed in industries that collectively degrade our planet, not to mention the health of their customers, and the feeling of compromised integrity that must accompany such a career decision.

Coca-Cola alone employs 82,500. I’m glad my kids aren’t among them.

Greenwashing in Single-Use Plastics Generates Lawsuits in Europe

Renewable Energy

America’s Brand: Indifference to Human Pain

Published

13 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Alice Rush

There are essentially two forms of government on this planet: those that care about the wellbeing of their citizens and serve their interests and those that don’t.

Until the late 20th Century, one could have plausibly argued either way re: the United States. Since about 1980, it’s been clear that we really couldn’t care less about the sufferings of the common American.

It’s really become part of our brand. Billionaires deserve tax cuts. The middle class is shrinking, and the poor deserve a kick in the ass for not working harder.