ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe and Zero Waste France demand that Danone be condemned to plan a “deplasticization trajectory”, or exit from plastic, judging its efforts insufficient.
“We are well aware that this cannot be done overnight but it must start today,” pleaded with AFP Antidia Citores, spokesperson for the coalition of NGOs.
The organizations are launching this procedure in France on the basis of a 2017 law on "duty of vigilance", which obliges large French companies to ensure respect for fundamental human rights and the environment right down to their suppliers. of the whole world.
This “duty of vigilance” is increasingly used by associations to sue large groups and publicize controversial activities:
Danone said he was "very surprised" by the approach, in a reaction to AFP.
The company, which notably produces yogurts of the same name and bottled waters (Volvic, Evian or Aqua in Indonesia), considers itself "long recognized as a pioneering company in the management of environmental risks".
The company claims to implement a "comprehensive framework of actions aimed at reducing the use of plastic, developing reuse, contributing to the strengthening of collection and recycling channels so that plastic stays outside nature and developing research on alternative materials.
Danone (100,000 employees, more than 24 billion euros in annual turnover) used nearly 751,000 tonnes of plastic in 2021, according to its latest annual report.
The group has set itself the goal of designing “100% recyclable, reusable or compostable” packaging by 2025.