France: Danone faces legal action over plastic use and reporting practices
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In January 2023, several NGOs took legal action against Danone on the basis of the French duty of vigilance law. This follows a formal notice issued in September 2022 against nine major food companies, including Danone, for failing to address the impact of their use of plastic across their value chain.
The NGO ClientEarth said : "the company's plastic use goes against a key French law that demands companies acknowledge and address the impacts their operations have on the environment, health and human rights".
Danone denies any allegations and said that it had brought down its plastic use by 12% between 2018 and 2021. Adding that "Danone has long been recognised as a pioneer in environmental risk management".
In May 2023, the first hearing on the case took place at the Paris Tribunal Judiciaire.
In September 2023, the judge ordered the next stage in the case against Danone to be mediation between the parties, providing an opportunity to discuss demands in detail with an independent mediator's guidance. If a workable solution is not found, the legal process will resume.