Don't Buy Into Coke's Green Claims

(U-WIRE) This story was written by Jessica Mayrer, Montana Kaimin

Poised to ramp up their marketing efforts at the University of Montana, Coca-Cola is taking full advantage of UM’s cash crunch to spread misleading advertising on campus.

As part of Coke’s proposed $8 million contract with UM, they get a new platform to voice faux sustainability claims, and they also gets exclusive rights to beverage sales.

As Coke’s proposed $8 million contract with UM’s contract with Coke is set to expire in August 2009, they are ready to put up a 9-foot-by-12-foot sign touting their work toward achieving a healthy planet.

But it’s a sham. Coke has an abysmal record as an environmental steward.

Whistle blowers in India have called Coke out on a number of environmental issues. Wastewater was allowed to seep out of Coke plants and into fields used for growing food; well water relied upon to irrigate crops was drained by the company; and the BBC reports soda tainted with pesticides was sold in India.
The BBC also reported that in 2003 Coke shipped waste to local farmers, telling them it was good for their crops. The “fertilizer” had traces of cadmium and lead, both poisonous.

Folks are getting wind of Coke’s real environmental history, and it’s causing a public relations challenge for the company.

College campuses across the nation have cancelled contracts with Coke because of their icky environmental record and alleged violence used by the company against union organizers in Colombia.

As their bad reputation spreads, the company is pumping up efforts to clean up its image. They have already bought UM two new recycling trucks. Aw shucks, what a sweet gesture.

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