Coca-Cola, Danone and Nestle have been accused of making misleading claims about their plastic water bottles being "100% recycled". A consumer body and two environmental groups have issued a legal complaint to the European Commission over the alleged greenwashing. They argue that the bottles are never made wholly of recycled materials. Companies are accused of greenwashing when they brand something as more eco-friendly, green or sustainable than it really is. It can mislead consumers who hope to help the planet by choosing those products. The complaint to the European Commission focuses on claims by the companies that the single-use plastic water bottles they supply are either 100% recycled, or 100% recyclable. They insist the bottles are never made wholly of recycled materials, and the ability to recycle them depends on a number of factors, including the available infrastructure. If the European Commission agrees with the complaint, it can organise a co-ordinated response among national consumer authorities, who can then take action. This could involve asking the companies to rectify the situation, or imposing fines within their own borders.
