California Sues Exxon Over Global Plastic Pollution, Reports Reuters

By Valerie Volcovici

California has initiated legal action against the oil conglomerate ExxonMobil regarding its purported contribution to global plastic waste pollution, as announced by the state’s attorney general on Monday.

During an event at Climate Week in New York City, California Attorney General Rob Bonta revealed that the lawsuit follows a nearly two-year investigation. This investigation reportedly revealed that Exxon had been intentionally misleading the public about the limitations associated with recycling.

The inquiry aligns with previous investigations in California that focused on the oil industry’s alleged attempts to misinform the public about climate change.

Bonta emphasized that his office is particularly interested in understanding Exxon’s promotion of its "advanced recycling" technology, which employs a technique called pyrolysis to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into fuel. He noted that the slow development of this technology indicates a continued pattern of deception by Exxon.

"This lawsuit presents the most comprehensive view to date of ExxonMobil’s long-standing deception, and we are asking the court to hold the company fully accountable for its role in creating and worsening the plastics pollution crisis through its misleading campaign," Bonta stated.

The attorney general seeks to put an end to what he describes as the company’s "deceptive practices" and aims to establish an abatement fund along with civil penalties for the damage caused by plastic pollution in California.

In response, Exxon contested Bonta’s claims, asserting that solutions such as advanced recycling genuinely contribute to addressing the issue of plastic waste. A spokesperson for the company remarked, "Filing lawsuits generates publicity but does not resolve the plastic waste dilemma. Advanced recycling is a viable solution," while criticizing California for not taking significant steps to enhance recycling.

According to a report from the Minderoo Foundation, Exxon is identified as the world’s largest manufacturer of resins used in single-use plastics, as established by consultancies Wood Mackenzie and the Carbon Trust.

This lawsuit from California arrives ahead of a crucial round of negotiations for a global plastic treaty, which is scheduled to occur in Busan, South Korea, at the end of the year.

During these discussions, countries are divided on whether the treaty should impose limits on plastic production— a position that Exxon and the global petrochemical sector oppose. Recently, the United States expressed its support for a treaty focused on reducing global plastic production.

Environmental groups have commended the lawsuit, viewing it as a crucial step in highlighting the deficiencies of both mechanical and advanced recycling methods. Christy Leavitt, Oceana’s plastics campaign director, remarked that the lawsuit aims to hold the industry accountable and challenge the prevailing narrative around plastic recycling, which she claims obstructs progress toward genuine solutions.