♻️ Coca-Cola to Revise “100% Recycled” Bottle Claims Following EU Greenwashing Alert
The European Commission announced that Coca-Cola will update its recycling-related marketing claims after an EU-wide greenwashing complaint by consumer group BEUC. The company voluntarily committed to changes following discussions with the EU’s Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network.
📌 Key Adjustments:
-
“100% recycled plastic bottle” will now read: “This bottle, excluding label and cap, is made from 100% recycled plastic.”
-
“Recycle me again” changed to “Recycle me.”
-
All packaging and digital marketing must avoid misleading environmental messaging.
📣 BEUC Director General Agustín Reyna:
“It’s progress, but if the ‘100%’ is still prominent, consumers may wrongly believe plastic bottles are harmless to the environment.”
Coca-Cola’s move highlights increasing pressure on brands to ensure accuracy in sustainability claims under EU consumer protection rules.
2.🇮🇳 India Releases Draft Climate Finance Taxonomy to Guide $2.5 Trillion Net Zero Investment
India’s Ministry of Finance has launched a draft framework for its Climate Finance Taxonomy, aimed at channeling capital into climate-aligned activities and preventing greenwashing, while supporting its net zero 2070 and interim 2030 targets.
📌 Key Highlights:
-
India targets net zero by 2070 and a 45% emissions intensity cut by 2030
-
$2.5 trillion investment needed by 2030
-
Two classifications:
✔ Climate-supportive (e.g. low-carbon tech, adaptation, R&D)
✔ Transition-supportive (e.g. efficiency in hard-to-abate sectors) -
Sectors prioritized: Steel, Cement, Power, Buildings, Mobility, Agriculture, Water
📣 Ministry of Finance: The taxonomy will drive climate-aligned capital flows while ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy
🗓️ Consultation open until June 25, 2025
India joins other economies like the EU, UK, Singapore, and Canada in advancing sustainable finance classification systems.
3.🤝 Dow & Google X Partner to Use AI for Sorting Hard-to-Recycle Plastics
Dow and Google X have launched a new partnership to improve recycling rates of hard-to-recycle plastic films and flexibles using AI and machine vision.
📌 Key Highlights:
-
Flexible packaging is increasingly common but difficult to sort due to mixed materials
-
Google X has built the first global plastics packaging database using chemistry + AI
-
New machine vision tech can now detect material types and composition in films/flexibles
-
Dow contributes recycling expertise as both material producer and recycler
📣 Han Zhang, Global Sustainability Director at Dow:
"Combining Dow's material science with Google's AI, we aim to revolutionize plastic recycling."
📣 Google X:
"This proof of concept shows promise—next, we’ll expand AI-powered molecular vision to tackle more flexible film challenges and improve circular systems."
This partnership marks a major step toward enabling scalable AI-powered recycling systems for complex plastic waste.
4.⚖️ 18 U.S. States Sue Trump Over Nationwide Wind Energy Freeze
A coalition of 18 state Attorneys General, led by NY AG Letitia James, has filed suit against the Trump Administration to block a federal freeze on new wind power development, citing executive overreach and damage to states' energy and climate goals.
📌 Case Highlights:
-
Presidential memo halted all wind project approvals on Day 1 of Trump’s term
-
Interior Dept. stopped construction of Empire Wind off NY coast (meant to power 500,000 homes)
-
Lawsuit says move is “arbitrary, capricious,” lacks legal basis, and undermines clean energy goals
-
AGs warn of lost jobs, delayed decarbonization, and contradicted bipartisan support for wind
📣 NY AG Letitia James:
“This unnecessary directive delays our transition from fossil fuels, costing jobs, investment, and harming public health.”
States in the lawsuit include CA, MA, IL, CO, WA, MD, NJ, and others.
5.📊 88% of Global Investors Interested in Sustainable Investing — Gen Z and Millennials Leading Allocation Growth
Morgan Stanley’s 2025 Sustainable Signals survey shows that interest in sustainable investing remains high, with 88% of investors globally expressing interest, and nearly 60% planning to increase their allocations in the coming year.
📌 Key Findings:
-
59% plan to increase, 31% maintain, and 3% decrease sustainable investments
-
84% interest in North America, 88% in Europe, 92% in APAC
-
Gen Z (99%) and Millennials (97%) show strongest interest, with over 65% allocating >20% of portfolios to sustainable assets
-
Top motivator: belief in competitive returns (24%)
-
85% believe sustainability and performance can go hand-in-hand
📉 Top Barriers:
-
Greenwashing concerns
-
Lack of transparent and trusted ESG data
-
Younger investors more likely to cite lack of knowledge or advice
📈 Thematic Trends:
-
80%+ see opportunity in the energy transition
-
Over 50% would only invest in traditional energy if climate plans are in place
-
60% are likely to purchase carbon offsets for portfolios
📣 Jessica Alsford, CSO at Morgan Stanley:
“Younger investors are driving the shift toward ESG, and believe investing can generate market-rate returns and positive outcomes.”
Resource:ESG TODAY