Exxon Mobil has launched a legal counterattack against California's attorney general, environmental groups and even an Australian charity, accusing them of defamation and undermining its business over claims that the company misled the public about plastic recycling.
Karen Zraick and Rebecca F. Elliott report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Exxon’s lawsuit targets California Attorney General Rob Bonta and environmental groups like the Sierra Club, alleging a coordinated effort to damage its reputation and derail business deals by misrepresenting its plastic recycling initiatives.
- This follows Bonta's 2023 lawsuit accusing Exxon of promoting "deceptive" recycling programs to encourage single-use plastics, which are notoriously hard to recycle.
- Environmental groups dismissed Exxon’s claims as intimidation tactics, standing by their allegations that the company’s recycling promises are largely unfeasible and misleading.
Key quote:
“[This is] a shameless attempt at intimidation… Exxon is clearly confused about the difference between defamation and accountability.”
— Jonathon Berman, Sierra Club spokesperson
Why this matters:
Exxon Mobil’s lawsuit feels like a high-stakes chess match in the battle over plastics and public trust. Critics charge chemical recycling is a ploy to convince the public that confronting the world's mounting plastic waste problem doesn't require a reduction in plastic production. If Exxon’s recycling promises are more illusion than solution, it raises bigger questions about the environmental cost of convenience—and who really pays the price.
