Mon Sep 23 21:53:48 UTC 2024: ## Exxon Mobil Sued for Deceptive Marketing of Plastics Recycling
**San Francisco, CA** – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of environmental nonprofits, has filed two lawsuits against Exxon Mobil, alleging that the oil giant has engaged in a decades-long campaign of deception regarding the sustainability and recyclability of plastics.
The lawsuits, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, stem from a two-year investigation that uncovered evidence that Exxon Mobil, despite knowing about the limitations of plastic recycling since the 1970s, actively promoted it as a solution to plastic pollution. The company, according to the complaints, used this marketing to justify its booming production of disposable plastics, which contribute to a significant portion of global plastic waste.
“Exxon Mobil has propped up sham solutions, manipulated the public, and lied to consumers,” said Attorney General Bonta at a press conference. “It’s time for Exxon Mobil to pay the price for its deceit.”
The attorney general’s lawsuit lists six claims against Exxon Mobil, including destruction of natural resources, false advertising, greenwashing, public nuisance, water pollution, and unfair competition.
The second lawsuit, filed by environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, and the Surfrider Foundation, directly links the failure of plastics recycling to the rampant plastic pollution plaguing aquatic environments.
Both lawsuits focus on Exxon Mobil’s role as the world’s largest producer of polymers used in single-use plastics, which, despite being designed for short-term use, end up in landfills, incinerators, or litter the environment.
The attorney general’s lawsuit highlights how Exxon Mobil actively promoted the use of disposable plastics and then, when the public became concerned about plastic waste, launched anti-litter campaigns while simultaneously promoting recycling as a solution, even though the company was aware of its limitations.
The lawsuits also point to Exxon Mobil’s promotion of “chemical recycling” as a misleading marketing tactic, claiming it is not a viable solution to the plastics pollution crisis.
Exxon Mobil, in response, defended its use of “advanced recycling” and blamed California officials for failing to address the issues with their recycling systems.
Attorney General Bonta is seeking civil penalties, a portion of the revenue Exxon Mobil gained from its deceptive marketing, and billions of dollars in funds to clean up existing plastic pollution and educate California consumers about the risks of plastics. The lawsuits also seek an injunction to prevent Exxon Mobil from promoting plastics recycling.
Environmental groups have praised the lawsuits, calling them a significant step in holding the plastics industry accountable for its misleading practices. They hope the legal action will set a precedent for future lawsuits against other companies involved in the plastics pollution crisis.
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