The state of California initiated legal action against ExxonMobil on Monday, citing the company’s significant contribution to the production of millions of tons of plastic that contaminate land, water, and the human body. The lawsuit also addresses the misleading promotion of the recyclability of most consumer plastics, a claim reportedly not grounded in reality.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement accusing ExxonMobil of deceiving Californians for fifty years through misleading public statements and promotional efforts aimed at creating the false impression that recycling could manage the vast amounts of plastic waste generated by ExxonMobil products. Recent revelations highlight that much of the plastic placed in recycling bins worldwide does not get recycled. Instead, it is often shipped overseas to regions like Southeast Asia or relegated to landfills. Since 2018, when China, a major importer of plastic waste, ceased accepting such materials, only approximately 5% of plastic waste in the U.S. has been recycled, per recent studies.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, is part of the Attorney General’s broader efforts to address the issue of single-use plastics, which are notoriously difficult to recycle. These plastics encompass items like packaging, bags, straws, and disposable utensils. This legal action follows an investigation Bonta launched in 2022 into the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries’ roles in the plastic crisis.
Bonta’s press release asserts that ExxonMobil’s deception has significantly contributed to plastic pollution, adversely affecting California’s environment, wildlife, and natural resources. Despite public unawareness regarding the non-recyclability of most plastics, the lawsuit alleges that ExxonMobil has a long history of promoting false claims about plastic recycling. For instance, Bonta references a 1989 advertisement from an ExxonMobil-affiliated trade group in Time magazine that assured the public that plastics would be recycled.
The lawsuit does not specify the damages sought but asks the court to mandate that ExxonMobil relinquish profits obtained through allegedly illegal conduct and pay unspecified civil penalties. California reports having collected more than 26 million pounds of trash from its beaches and waterways since 1985, with over 80% comprised of plastic. Additionally, scientists have increasingly detected microplastics in the human body, affecting organs such as the heart, liver, brain, and testicles.
Bonta’s press release emphasizes the pervasive presence of plastics, noting their infiltration into the deepest ocean depths, highest mountain peaks, and human bodies. This widespread plastic presence is causing potential irreversible damage to the environment and health.
Bonta further accused ExxonMobil of deceiving the public for decades to bolster its profits, despite knowing that plastic recycling could not resolve the waste and pollution crisis. The lawsuit seeks to hold ExxonMobil accountable for its actions, which, according to Bonta, have exacerbated the plastic pollution crisis through continuous deception.
ExxonMobil did not respond to inquiries emailed on Monday. Gizmodo will provide updates if additional information becomes available.
