California will file a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against ExxonMobil for allegedly deceiving the public about the plastic pollution crisis, the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, announced on Monday.
The announcement comes amid increasing public concern about the plastic sector’s environmental and climate impact.
Two years ago, Bonta launched an investigation into fossil fuel and petrochemical producers “for their role in causing and exacerbating the global plastics pollution crisis”. As part of the investigation, he issued a subpoenas to the oil giant ExxonMobil and plastic trade groups, seeking related documents.
In May 2024, industry groups asked a US district court to block the subpoena, but a federal district judge this month preliminarily rejected their argument that the investigation violated the first amendment.
A February report from the advocacy group Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) found that plastic producers have known for decades that plastic recycling is too cumbersome and pricey to become a feasible waste management solution, yet promoted it anyway. In a statement, CCI president Richard Wiles called the legal challenge “the most important legal action to date in the global fight against plastic pollution”.
Two dozen US states and municipalities have also filed legal challenges against oil interests, accusing them of sowing climate doubt despite longstanding knowledge of their products’ contributions to global heating.
“Just as Exxon knew and lied about how its fossil fuel products cause climate change, the polluter has also known and lied for decades about the reality that its plastic products could never be recycled at scale,” Wiles said. “From climate to plastics, Exxon’s entire business model is based on lying to the public about the harms its products cause.”
The Guardian has reached out to Exxon for comment.
Advocates hope the California suit will spur a wave of similar litigation.
“[W]e hope to see more officials follow suit,” said Wiles.
Polling conducted by CCI and the progressive polling firm Data for Progress this month found a majority of American voters, including 54% of Republicans, would support legal efforts to hold oil and petrochemicals responsible for the plastic crisis.
On Sunday, Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, also signed a law banning the distribution of plastic shopping bags.
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