Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone have committed to revising their recycling information for plastic bottles with the EU Commission. In the future, the labels will provide more precise information about the recyclate content and the recyclability of the packaging.
The commitments are the result of a dialogue between the companies, the European Commission, and the European Network of Consumer Protection Authorities (CPC). As the Commission announced on October 22, 2026, misleading environmental claims on bottle labels and in accompanying advertising will be avoided. The measures concern both the wording of individual recycling instructions and the overall design of the packaging labeling.
More precise information on the recyclate share
Specifically, statements such as „I am a bottle made of 100 percent recycled plastic“ are to be replaced in the future by formulations that explicitly exclude closures and labels. This is intended to make it clear which packaging components actually refer to the recycled content stated.
The request „Recycle me again“ should also be replaced with „Recycle me“. In the authorities’ opinion, the current wording could give the impression that the bottle has already been recycled and can be processed into a new bottle.
In addition, the companies commit to ensuring that the overall design of their labels does not convey misleading impressions about the environmental benefits of plastic bottles. This applies in particular to the combination of recycling information with other environmental statements or symbols. Communication on websites and in social media should also be adapted accordingly.
Authorities monitor implementation
According to the Commission, Coca-Cola and Nestlé have already implemented part of their commitments; this concerns in particular recycling information in digital advertising campaigns.
The national consumer protection authorities will monitor the further implementation. In the event of violations, they may initiate enforcement measures.
The basis for the proceedings was a complaint from the European consumer association BEUC in November 2023. The EU Commission also refers in this context to the stricter requirements for environmental claims under the EmpCo directive, which aims to better protect consumers from misleading sustainability claims.
The case illustrates the growing importance of precise environmental information on packaging. In particular, statements about recycled content must clearly indicate which components of a packaging they refer to.