Call Coca-Cola and PepsiCo’s headquarters
We will be encouraging all Greenpeace USA supporters to call Coca-Cola’s headquarters from July 7-17 and PepsiCo’s headquarters from July 18-24 (but any time in July will also work). We want to make sure the corporate headquarters hear us loud and clear: we want reusable options, not more single-use plastic!
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Phone number: 1 (800) 438-2653
It will take you through some menu options and you’ll have to press 1 for English (or whichever language you prefer), then press 5 for “all other inquiries.”
Script:
“Hi, I’m calling about Coca-Cola’s enormous plastic waste issue – can I share a few thoughts? I’m glad to see that Coca-Cola has publicly committed to selling some of its products in refillable/reusable containers, but I don’t think it’s ambitious enough. Coca-Cola produced 13 billion more plastic bottles last year than the previous year and I’m concerned that your reuse & refill commitment won’t actually decrease your plastic usage. Can you share information on how the company will move away from plastic packaging and replace it with reuse systems in my community?”
The customer service representative will likely refer to Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” initiative and how Coca-Cola’s bottles are nearly all recyclable.
A few facts you can respond with if you like:
- Plastic recycling rates in the US are currently at just 5%. Even if Coca-Cola’s bottles are technically recyclable, there is a high likelihood that they’re not being recycled.
- Even if most bottles were recycled, at the scale of production, the waste and pollution cost is still too high.
- Coca-Cola has been named the top polluter in global brand audits four years in a row – Coca-Cola’s plastic is polluting our oceans, communities, and climate.
- Coca-Cola’s commitment to scale refill and reuse is a step in the right direction, but we need to guarantee that this will equal a reduction in single-use plastic bottles. Coca-Cola needs to go above and beyond its commitment of 25% refillable bottles by 2030 because, frankly, that’s not enough, nor is it quick enough.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Phone number: 1 (800) 433-2652
You’ll have to wait for the menu options and then endure the PepsiCo-themed hold music while they connect you to a consumer relations representative.
Script
The person answering the call might ask which school you’re calling from. You can say, “I’m not calling from a school, but…
I’m calling to ask PepsiCo to go beyond recycling and invest in systems of refill and reuse instead. Current rates of plastics recycling in the US are only 5%, so PepsiCo solely focusing on recyclable plastic bottles is not helping mitigate the plastic waste crisis. PepsiCo has been one of the top polluters in global brand audits for four years in a row. Coca-Cola recently committed to reuse and refill goal earlier this year, and I’d like to see PepsiCo go beyond Coca-Cola’s commitment. Can I be assured that PepsiCo will offer reuse systems in my community?”
A few lines you can respond with if you like:
- We are asking PepsiCo to commit to having 50% refillable packaging by 2030.
- Plastic recycling rates in the US last year were only 5-6%. Even if PepsiCo’s bottles are technically recyclable, there is a high likelihood that they’re not being recycled.
- Even if most bottles were recycled, at the scale of production, the waste and pollution cost is still too high.