Coca-Cola under fire after bombshell report exposes ties to controversial industry: 'The cost is irreversible damage to our children's health'
Research reveals that several brands, including Coca-Cola, are linked to plastic production processes that rely on fracking.
Euronews reported that Stand.earth found over 25 well-known consumer brands linked to fracking operations in the Permian Basin of Texas, one of the world's biggest "carbon bombs" because of its massive contribution to planet-warming pollution.
Fracking involves breaking apart shale rock below the earth's surface to extract natural gas and oil, which is achieved by using a high-pressure mix of water, sand, and chemicals blasted at the rock.
A byproduct is ethane, which is used to fuel the plastic industry. The Stand.earth investigation uncovered that much of the ethane from Texas is shipped overseas for plastic production.
Stand.earth observed that some of the brands linked to Permian Basin fracking include Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé, and Procter & Gamble. P&G is the parent company of countless household brands, such as Gillette, Olay, and Always.
The fracking process creates environmental damage and can significantly impact local communities. For example, it can lead to tremors or small earthquakes, and local water supplies can be contaminated with gas. There are even videos of residents near the Permian Basin lighting their tap water on fire, showcasing the extent of contamination.
"From toxic extraction in the Permian Basin to poisonous production along the Houston Ship Channel, the cost is irreversible damage to our children's health — low birth weights and reproductive and developmental harm — spanning generations," Yvette Arellano, founder and executive director of Houston grassroots environmental justice organization Fenceline Watch, told Euronews.
Fracking is a way to access an abundant energy resource, but extraction can be dangerous and destroy vital habitats. Meanwhile, relying on natural gas further slows the transition to non-polluting energy sources such as solar and wind.
The use of ethane for plastic brings further issues. Plastic is one of the most polluting materials on the planet. It doesn't degrade naturally, but it breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, becoming microplastics that can enter the bodies of animals and humans and have been linked to a variety of health issues.
The U.N. Environment Program noted that 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic enter aquatic ecosystems every year, contaminating water supplies, destroying vital animal habitats, and posing a threat to marine life.
Should companies be required to help recycle their own products?
Definitely
No way
It depends on the product
They should get tax breaks instead
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
A study published in the Science Advances journal, summarized by Axios, noted that Coca-Cola is responsible for more than half of plastic pollution across the globe.
Coca-Cola is involved in eco-friendly initiatives — such as World Without Waste, which pledges to make all packaging recyclable — but critics argue it's not enough.
The company has said it will increase its global recycled plastic use to 30-35% by 2035, but its link to fracking operations suggests it is still looking to create new plastics.
Delphine Levi Alvares, global petrochemicals campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, told Euronews that brands often forget "their primary business is not packaging, it's really bringing products to people."
Using dirty-fuel-based plastics is a choice, not a necessity. Recycled plastics and bio-based plastics are safer alternatives. Even refillable or no-package designs could work.
Until companies commit to reducing plastic use, fracking will remain profitable. It's important to recognize greenwashing — when corporations tout environmentally friendly practices but don't follow through — and support companies that are transparent about packaging material and working to prioritize sustainable choices for people and the planet.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
15 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
26 Bizarre Kitchen Habits People Have Witnessed
We probably all develop our own quirks and habits in the kitchen over time, ranging from innocently leaving cabinet doors open to not so innocently refusing to toss expired foods. And because I love some good ol' kitchen drama, when redditor u/beetlebloop asked the r/AskReddit community to share the weirdest habit they've seen in a friend's kitchen, I dug right in. Here are some of the horrifying, confusing, and just plain weird things people have witnessed. "Knew a guy who kept his chef's knives stabbed into the wall." "I opened a friend's fridge and it contained 30–40 cans of whipped cream and NOTHING ELSE. Family of three." "The dad of a guy I went out with in high school had, I swear to god, an entire wall stacked with Coca-Cola 12-packs. Must have been 8 by 8 feet. No one was allowed to drink any of the cans except for him. If we wanted Coke, we had to drink from the stale 2-liter bottle in the fridge." "My ex-father-in-law thought traditional spaghetti with meat sauce was too 'spicy,' so he would make noodles and top them with ground beef and ketchup." "I worked with someone who told me that if she ever cooks and bakes for other people, she will strip down to her underwear to avoid cross-contamination of dog hair or other linty bits from her clothes." "Their dishcloth was used only once: They did the dishes; wiped down the stove top, counters, and cupboard fronts; then threw it in the bin and got a new one. Must cost a lot." "After college, I had a roommate who said the best way to boil water was a 'slow boil.' He insisted on using low heat." "She cut up raw meat using her bare hands, then opened drawers, cabinets, and the fridge before washing her hands. When she asked if I wanted to do weekly meal prep with her, I politely declined." "My childhood dog would poop inside, and if it solid, my dad would use a spoon to clean it up. Not a designated spoon that was the dog-shit spoon, just a regular spoon from the cutlery drawer. I did not discover this until he had been doing this for years. I was HORRIFIED and furious. When I told him it was disgusting, he got so defensive and said, 'Well, how would you like me to clean it up?' I then listed many different ways to clean dog shit. My mom also didn't seem too concerned with it." "A friend of mine when I was growing up had me over for family dinner. We were served spaghetti. When everyone (five or six of us) was done, the mom scraped all of the uneaten spaghetti on everyone's plate back into the big pot." "My old roommate would take a coffee cup from the night before with old coffee and milk in it and make a new one in the morning without dumping the old coffee out first." "My uncle left raw chicken out on the counter for who knows how long, and it was covered in ants. I let him know. He rinsed the ants off and put the chicken back in the fridge." "I was friends with a family who had six kids. The parents made everyone drink a full glass of milk with every meal, including guests. They would set out a gallon of milk on the table at each meal, and it would just sit there until it was all gone, even if it took longer than one meal. I've always hated drinking milk, but those experiences really finished it off for me." "My husband's old roommate used to take a new dish every time he ate something and then leave it behind in his room instead of putting it in the dishwasher. One day, it occurred to my husband that there were like five dishes left in the kitchen, and the rest were nowhere to be found until he looked in said roommate's room and found his moldy hoard." "Growing up, I used to go to this one friend's house almost every day after school. This was a middle-class family who made a decent amount of money. Her parents let us have however much soda we wanted, but it was always the off-brand cola ONLY that was stored in the garage. I live in the desert, so imagine walking home in 110 degrees in the summer and cracking a 90-degree cola. YUCK." "I know someone who throws away almost nothing. This wouldn't be a terrible habit if it didn't mean offering you the moldy lemon that has been sitting on the counter for god only knows how long because god forbid she just cuts a new lemon. Also tomatoes, peppers — anything. I try not to eat there. She is very well off but has this hoarder mindset, especially around food. Also, she refuses to use chef's knives and cooks exclusively with steak knives." "Taking raw chicken and putting it directly in her flour canister to cover with flour to fry. I am still horrified years later." "I watched my coworker wash his potatoes with dish soap. He squirted the soap straight onto the potato, rubbed it all over with his bare hands, rinsed it, and started chopping it. Then he threw the chopped, unpeeled, and soapy potatoes into a pot. He boiled them, mashed them without adding anything to them, then, for some reason, picked the skin out of the pot of mashed potatoes with his bare hands. No milk, cream, butter, salt, or anything. Tasted like a sad, soapy pile of compost." "I had an acquaintance whose place I went to a couple of times for parties. On both occasions, they brought out a blender to blend wine. I think one time I just saw them blend a single bottle, but another time they blended two bottles together. I think they fundamentally misunderstood what it meant to 'blend wines' and thought that it involved the appliance. I was absolutely gobsmacked but didn't know them well enough to feel comfortable asking them why they did it." "I have this friend — a grown adult male — who doesn't wash his dishes with soap. I realized this after I had already eaten at his house several times. We were talking in his kitchen one day, and I watched him start washing a pan. He rinsed the food off with water and just put it up to dry?? Then, later on, he was at my house and yelled at me for washing a pan he had given me with soap. He was apparently scared I was going to take off the finish or something." "I knew a guy who thought you were meant to throw out wooden spoons after each use. He'd spend so much money on them. When we told him you could reuse them, his mind was blown." "I had a roommate I didn't know well. We kind of ignored each other, and I didn't want to ask too many questions. She kept six peach yogurt cups in a drawer in the kitchen (not in the fridge). I never saw her use any of them. One day, her boyfriend came over and found them. He asked why she had yogurt in a drawer, and she got kind of upset and told him to just put them back and leave them alone. After that, I was even more curious but even more afraid to ask." "My husband has a habit of just putting used utensils in the freezer. Not washed, just licked clean (sometimes). He says the freezer 'kills' the bacteria and he can reuse them as many times as he wants." "I knew a family who had two full kitchens, yet they used the dishwasher to store bakeware. Everyone had to wash dishes by hand instead. I get it if you're short on storage or don't have a dishwasher, but space was not an issue here." "My mother-in-law insists on keeping cabinet doors above the microwave open. Why, you ask? So the heat doesn't build up in the cabinet and start a fire." "My neighbors had to finish their plates completely, and I mean licked clean, because the dessert yogurt would be poured onto the used plates. It was so gross having yogurt with a bite of potato. It is still a running gag with my family." Are there any bizarre kitchen habits you've witnessed from friends or family? Let us know in the comments or fill out this anonymous form!
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
What Tourist Finds in Hotel Bathroom Leaves Internet Stunned: 'Please Help'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A traveler turned to the internet for help identifying a puzzling item they encountered during their hotel stay. The Redditor, u/Dante1776, shared an image of a curious metal contraption mounted next to the toilet, asking fellow users in the subreddit r/whatisthisthing to help crack the case. "Found in hotel bathroom. Looks like bottle opener but it's mounted right next to the toilet," they wrote. "Staff said it was already there when they got the job... please help!" The post quickly took off, garnering more than 14,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments as Reddit sleuths debated the object's purpose. Some took a humorous approach, whilst acknowledging it was a bottle opener. "For drinking while doing other things," one user joked. "Seriously, I guess some people haven't discovered the simple joy of shower beers yet?" another chimed in. "Best place to drink them. I'm sober now and drinking a shower Mountain Dew Zero just isn't the same," someone added. Others offered theories as to why the common kitchen item was placed in the bathroom. "Hotels add bottle openers near features where people will try to open bottles like that ledge. It's to prevent damage. They're usually in the bathroom where there is a hard surface counter," explained one commenter. Another user offered a tongue-in-cheek theory: "It's so you can shake up a Coca-Cola and use it as a bidet. /s In all seriousness, I can't imagine it being anything other than a bottle opener. Very weird spot for it though." Eventually, Redditor u/ProudPaddedPro offered a well-informed explanation that seemed to settle the matter. "So it's a bottle opener and I can explain why it is where it is," they wrote. According to them, around 15–20 years ago, even budget hotels began installing tile and granite in their bathrooms for a more upscale, durable look. However, maintenance teams soon noticed a surprising issue: guests were cracking tiles by using the countertop edges to open bottles. Rather than constantly replacing damaged tiles, hotels opted for a cheaper fix. By mounting a $1 bottle opener in the bathroom, they could prevent costly repairs caused by guests popping bottle caps on fragile surfaces. The explanation wasn't just a theory—u/ProudPaddedPro said it came directly from a senior vice president of capital planning at a major discount hotel chain. Reddit users were fascinated by the strange-but-smart hospitality hack, with one even inspired to turn it into a trivia question. A stock image showing a hotel bathroom. A stock image showing a hotel bathroom. rilueda/iStock / Getty Images Plus "I run trivia at least once a week. I wonder how I could phrase it as a question?" they mused. Another user had the perfect suggestion: "What common kitchen gadget is frequently installed in hotel bathrooms to prevent damage to countertops?" Newsweek reached out to u/Dante1776 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Best flavored whiskeys for Father's Day, including ... salty watermelon
Best flavored whiskeys for Father's Day, including ... salty watermelon Don't overthink it. Flavored whiskeys are totally fine. Sometimes you need a break from big, barrel-influenced flavors. One of the truest pleasures in life is an occasional coffee mug filled with ice and Fireball. And though Fireball remains the oft-criticized king when it comes to mashed-up whiskey, there are several contenders for its throne. Thus, I'm kicking off our Father's Day week-long whiskey extravaganza with these gateway spirits to the harsher (but rewarding) world of bourbons, ryes and Scotches. Let's give some pre-mixed cocktails and various infused whiskeys a test drive and see what's worthy of drinking (or gifting). These are the flavored whiskeys I drank this year, ranging from forgettable to "not bad." Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola ready-to-drink cocktails I was concerned about the carbonation in a pre-mixed cocktail. Fortunately, this can roars open with the familiar crack of a typical Coke and pours with the big, quickly dissipating head you'd expect from the unadulterated thing. I'm opting for the vanilla here, because that's always been my personal favorite. The smell off the top is more vanilla extract than vanilla syrup, owing to the seven percent alcohol by volume within. It's still appealing, but you know right away this isn't your typical midday caffeine boost. In fact, there's no caffeine at all -- reasonable, given the Kyle-shaped crater Four Loko left outside frat houses across the nation. (Which Kyle? Judging by the puka shell fragments around the rim, it was Kyle S. Services were held at the Quiksilver in the mall. Not the good one.) The first sip is boozy, but never burns. The whiskey works naturally with the vanilla, heightening the minor flavor you'd get from Jack Daniel's barrel aging. It works in sequences, going Coke-Jack-Coke, leaving you with sugary sweetness and carbonation to finish each sip. That's a bit rich, but it's also possible I'm not used to full-bodied Coca-Cola after spending the last two decades drinking whatever sugar-free version they had (I write about booze for a living, I need to conserve calories where I can). The downside is the lack of flexibility. This is a little too strong to taste primarily like Coke. It's a little too weak to taste like the cola and bourbons I'd make for myself at home. Jack Daniel's is going for a sweet spot with the greatest possible appeal and probably hit it. But there's a benefit to being able to mix your drink your way -- especially with a two-step cocktail like this. Even so, it's better than expected. The soda is full-bodied, the carbonation is crisp and the whiskey is apparent but not overpowering. Ol' Jacky D could have half-assed this one. He didn't. Five Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon The bottle is mysterious. We don't know what the ingredients are, what the origin of the infused flavors are, if there's been any color added or much else. We do get that it's 70 proof and from Bardstown, Kentucky, which is a nice start (there is a QR code on the neck. I am a lazy man, so I'm just gonna jump in instead). It smells like a fancy, boozy waffle. It tastes... like a boozy waffle. I have no idea what the aging on this is, but it's tremendously smooth and zero burn to speak of. That also means it's not especially complex. It's a scoop of ice cream on top of a warm stack of pancakes, not quite decadent but still very much leaning into its dessert roots. That sweetness is the headliner, but you get some roasted malt and a little oak later in the sip. That reminds you you're dealing with a little booze, though it doesn't feel like it clocks in at 70 proof. There's a little cinnamon lingering underneath but, yeah, the bottle promises vanilla and maple. The spirit delivers vanilla and maple. Heaps and heaps of it. It's lovely to sip over ice. It lacks the spice and snappy finish of a Fireball, but it's still an easy win. Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey I like a little salt in my whiskey. Granted, that's normally from a bit of sea spray in a coastal Scotch, but hey, I'm open minded. Same with the caramel; it's not too much of a stretch to bring these two whiskey-related flavors to the forefront. But it might be a stretch to lean heavily on them, because a little dab will do when it comes to either. The smell from the top of the pour (over ice) is like a Werther's Original hard candy. It's familiar in a 99 cent mini bottle sort of way. That's not necessarily a bad thing -- some of those cheap lil weirdos are awesome -- but that's where your mind goes. OK, so it smells... artificial. It tastes sweet up front, but the salt clocks in toward the end to help the finish clock in at not quite dry, but not as sloppy as you'd expect. There's a little warmth befitting a 70 proof spirit -- Duke & Dame doesn't hide its booze as well as some of the others on this list -- but there's nothing you'd consider a burn. That gives it utility as a change-of-pace sipper or a chilled shot. There isn't much do it besides caramel up front and a little salt in the back. But that's fine; you're not drinking it for depth and complexity. You're drinking it because it's easy and fun. That's probably not gonna impress your boss or rich friends, but it's still nice. Mash & Mallow S'mores Whiskey Well, we did it. We finally made the South Park Civil War reenactment liquor a reality. Granted, Mash & Mallow *isn't* S'mores Schnapps or 151 proof, but what possibly could be? Regardless, there's potential here -- the oaky, warm base of a bourbon could bring a little snap and balance to the sweet-on-sweet of a s'more. The smell off the top leans into this -- there's a little smoke, a little marshmallow and some graham cracker elements that... sorta come across as stale. I'm sipping this one over ice, which helps space out the big flavors within and thin out a denser spirit. And with some ice, this is actually pretty decent. There's a sweetness that lingers long after it leaves your lips, but you do get a little charred marshmallow and cracker before getting there. Despite what's effectively a blank check to dial up the boozy burn at the end in a flavored whiskey, Mash & Mallow never tastes like a 70 proof spirit. In terms of sting, it's closer to a 30 proof Rumchata than, say, a pull off a cheap Fireball knockoff. Your tolerance will come down to how much sweet you can handle -- and how much hangover you're willing to risk the next day, since I have to think this will take a ghastly toll. Mash & Mallow is a dumb idea executed smartly. It's nice to sit and sip with. It's a remarkably easy shooter. It's an easy win to bring to a tailgate. Despite all the ways this could have gone wrong, Mash & Mallow found a way to do it right. Old Smoky Whiskeys Old Smoky is best known for its moonshine, but the Tennessee-based distiller is honing in on that Fireball market for chilled shots that don't really taste like whiskey. I gave three of their new-ish offshoots a try, to varying effect. Salty Watermelon: The mint chocolate chip cream was the first Ole Smoky I drank -- passed around as a chilled shot during March Madness. But salty watermelon got the call to be the first one I reviewed because, well, salty watermelon. That's a hook right there. A whiskey that tastes like a summer cookout? Alright, I'm in. I'm drinking this (and all of these) over ice. With all respect to Ole Smoky, I feel like this lovely bottle does not clamor for the strict adherence of drinking it neat. Even with the ice, it smells absolutely potent with watermelon candy odors and a nice little ring of brine. It's incredibly appealing. And, yep, this is like drinking candy. The watermelon washes out any of the oak or mash. Which is fine, because the label assures me the lovely mahogany of the bottle is the result of caramel coloring. So that artificial flavor is doing a lot of work, but it's not like you didn't know what you were getting into. You're drinking salted watermelon whiskey from a moonshine company. There's a little harshness underneath, but that slips away under the distinct impression you're drinking a thin, boozy Jolly Rancher. That is a compliment. It is not good, but it is great. Salty Caramel Well, this one smells half like melted Snickers and half like... well, some off-brand flavored booze mini bottle I crushed in college or far too long after college to proudly admit. It's aggressively chemical and sweet. There's a bit of a maple syrup/antifreeze vibe that wafts through the room. It's a lot. Even with ice, it's a bit syrupy. With the caramel in tow there's a certain melted ice cream vibe in play. Which would probably go great in a big, boozy shake. On the rocks, it's overpowered and much less enjoyable than the salty watermelon. You start off with some low key sugar (substitute). Then, wham, that's a lot of caramel flavoring all at once. It's like pouring the crumbs from a box of Fiddle Faddle into your mouth, except with a little boozy aftertaste. It's probably fine as a shot, but might be a tough mixer in anything but a dessert drink. Mint Chocolate Chip Cream I love a good, dumb dessert shot. Living in Wisconsin has led me to Travis Hasse's pie liquors (which originated at the Missouri Tavern, one of the best bars in the state). This one, pouring thick out of the freezer and in need of refrigeration after opening, lends all the promise of melted ice cream. It smells like a two scoop cone dropped on the sidewalk on a hot summer day. Before the ants arrive, naturally. The first sip is, yep, melted ice cream. There's a little bit of spice toward the end, but nothing that would really tip you off to the booze inside until you get to a slightly warm aftertaste. It's minimal -- this is a 35 proof spirit, after all -- but it's there. The drink is dense and sweet and, honestly, a lot. That's a plus if you're looking for a quick dessert shot or adding it to a shake. In a cocktail it's a tougher sell. That aftertaste coats your tongue with sugary sweetness and artificial flavor, weighing you down afterward. If you've got a sweet tooth? It's probably not a problem. But it's a lot to handle as a sipper.
