Why We Need to Boycott #SodaStream ?

SodaStream manufactures and distributes home carbonating devices and flavorings for soft drinks. Its products are sold in 39 countries and can be found in retail stores like Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Coop, Carrefour and Migros. The company’s main production site is in the illegal West Bank Settlement of the Mishor Edomin Industrial Zone, where the company conceals the fact that its products are manufactured in a settlement by using ‘Made in Israel’ labels. As an Israeli settlement manufacturer, it exploits Palestinian land, resources and labor.

SodaStream’s main production site is in the illegal West Bank settlement (Ma’aleh Adumim) and industrial zone of Mishor Edomin. Companies that produce in the settlements enjoy several structural advantages, such as tax incentives, lax enforcement of regulations, as well as additional governmental support. Despite SodaStream’s location in the West Bank, goods produced here do not serve the local population; instead, 65% of goods are shipped elsewhere and taxes and profits go to support the Israeli economy---not Palestinians. The settlement of Ma’aleh Adumin itself is strengthened by the factory’s taxes, which go towards activities like road construction and municipal employee salaries. Additionally, this settlement is strategically positioned to disconnect the southern West Bank from central and northern areas to prevent Palestinian movement and development (see map below).

Palestinians who work in the settlements often face exploitative labor conditions, and because they are treated as occupied subjects rather than citizens, depend on their employers for work permits. These permits can be denied for “security reasons” after any kind of labor disagreement with an employer; therefore, Palestinian workers are unable to demand their legal labor rights without risking current and future sources of employment. SodaStream factory workers suffer from harsh working conditions including pay well below the minimum wage despite their entitlement under Israeli law to the same rights as Israeli workers.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the settlements are not part of the state of Israel and so any agreements made between Israel and the European Union regarding the trade of goods do not apply to settlement goods. However, Israel continues to mislabel settlement goods as “Made in Israel”---in some countries, this is considered consumer fraud. According to a company report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the entire production of its carbonation devices takes place within the Mishor Edomim Industrial Park. And yet, SodaStream regularly fails to label its products accurately and instead writes “Made in Israel” or sometimes, “Made in China,” misleading consumers.