EU welcomes Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone commitments to change recycling claims on plastic bottles

The European Commission says Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone have committed to change recycling claims advertised on their plastic bottles after a dialogue with the Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network.

The CPC action was carried out under the lead of the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Hungarian Competition Authority. The Commission says that once the companies have made the necessary changes, consumers can rely on fair and clear information about the recycling characteristics of the bottles, in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.

What the companies committed to change

According to the Commission, the companies have committed to replace claims on bottles' labels such as “I am a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic” with “This bottle is 100% recycled. Excluding cap and label” to ensure factually clear and correct information regarding recyclability and composition.

They also committed to replace claims such as “Recycle me again” with “Recycle me”, so companies do not give consumers the false impression that the bottle was already recycled before purchase and can be recycled into another bottle again.

The companies also committed to ensure that the overall impression of the label and the marketing is not misleading regarding the inherent environmental benefits of plastic bottles, including by combining them with other green claims or symbols, and to make sure digital marketing campaigns on their websites and social media channels reflect the content of these commitments.

Coca-Cola and Nestlé, whose dialogues were concluded in June 2025 and February 2026, have already implemented some of the commitments within the established deadlines, notably those relating to recycling claims advertised in digital campaigns.

What happens next

National consumer protection authorities will monitor implementation of the commitments and may proceed with enforcement measures if companies fail to comply. The Commission and the CPC network may also engage with bottling industry associations to ensure a level playing field where companies operating in the Single Market abide by the same rules.

Why this matters for retail traders

For retail traders and newer investors, the practical point is that the Commission is pressing for tighter, clearer environmental claims on consumer products. The announcement is about compliance with EU consumer law, not a market forecast, and it shows how regulatory scrutiny can affect how consumer brands present their products to shoppers.

The Commission also says the Consumer Protection Cooperation network is a network of national authorities responsible for enforcing EU consumer protection laws, and that coordinated actions are used to tackle widespread and cross-border infringements of consumer law in the EU.

The Commission says all companies selling products across the EU should respect EU consumer legislation, and that traders' commercial practices must not mislead consumers and should comply with the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, including with regard to environmental claims. It also says the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition strengthens consumer protection rules against greenwashing.