The Coca-Cola group-with good grace for CSR(Corporate Sustainability Reporting) and ESG(Environmental, Social and Governance)-has succeeded in blasting the ban on PET in bottles introduced in Mexico. A country where 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year, 97 percent of which is not recycled.
A huge amount of plastic waste, fueled by the high consumption of soft drinks and bottled water that sees Mexico at the top of the global ranking. In fact, about 200 PET bottles are produced per citizen each year, 52.8 percent of which are for soft drinks and 17 percent for water. (1)
1) Mexico, a reform to promote the circular economy.
In 2019, the Congress of the State of Oaxaca (Mexico) had approved a reform aimed at promoting environmental protection and the circular economy. The regulations introduced for the prevention and integral management of solid waste, made indispensable by a real environmental emergency, have included:
- A ban on the use of single-use plastic (PET) bottles for bottling water and beverages,
- A ban on the use of polystyrene (EPS, (Sintered Expanded Polystyrene) packaging,
- a transitional period (one year for small and micro enterprises, six months for large and medium-sized ones) within which to follow up on the above bans.
1.2) Coca-Cola, court battle against environmental protection regulations.
The environmental reform in the state of Oaxaca was immediately challenged by two of Coca-Cola’s subsidiaries in Mexico, PROPIMEX, S. de R.L. de C.V. and Cadena Commercial OXXO, which unsuccessfully requested its provisional suspension.
Coca-Cola’s Mexican subsidiaries have therefore pursued a court battle against the aforementioned environmental protection regulations. Until obtaining, on 18.8.22, the declaration of their unconstitutionality by the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico. (2)
2) Coca-Cola in Mexico, the background.
Coca-Cola’s bubble imperialism has been the subject of scientific studies where its total disregard for nutritional policies and the universal right to clean water is highlighted. (3) But the Mexican civil service is no stranger to undue favors to the U.S. giant:
- in 2020, the mayor of the municipality of San Cristóbal in Chiapas, the poorest state in Mexico as well as the top consumer of Coca-Cola, had asked the National Water Commission (Conagua) to revoke two water extraction concessions granted to the industrial giant,
- the two concessions were instead renewed for another 20 years, without any consultation with the residents of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, because the requested revocation “generates adverse effects and jeopardizes the supply of this vital liquid for the general population, as well as serious collateral health damage related to soft drink consumption (tooth decay, diabetes, obesity and hypertension, among others)“. (4)
3) Plastic pollution, the global crisis.
Plastic pollution is a global problem. In March 2022, the United Nations adopted a resolution on plastics. Where it is stipulated that signatory states, which includes Mexico, commit to submit strategies to reduce plastic use through binding rules. (5)
Corporations that invest billions of dollars in false health and environmental propaganda (6) should be the first to work with local governments to implement effective plastic reduction strategies. Instead of insisting on greenwashing non-existent recycling (7) and continuing highly polluting practices.
Isis Consuelo Sanlucar Chirinos
Notes
(1) Comunicaciòn Social, Congreso de Oaxaca. 15.04.2019. https://congresooaxaca.gob.mx/boletins/
(3) Dario Dongo. Coca-Cola, obesity and the right to water. Scientific study. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 19.7.20
(4) Elio Henriquez. La jornada. 6.05.2020. https://www.jornada.com.mx/ultimas/estados/2020/05/06/sin-elementos-para-revocar-concesion-a-coca-cola-en-chiapas-conagua-5631.html
(5) Isis Sanlucar. Historic united nations agreement against plastic pollution. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 5.03.2022
(6) Dario Dongo. Coca-Cola, false health and wellness propaganda aimed at teens. Scientific study. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 22.12.19
(7) Marta Strinati, Dario Dongo. Plastic pollution, the responsibilities of Big Food. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 12.01.2022
Graduated in food engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, she is attending the master's degree in 'Food Safety Lawyer and Consultant' at Alma Mater, University of Bologna.