California targets ExxonMobil over plastic pollution

California’s lawsuit against ExxonMobil alleges decades of deceptive practices regarding the recyclability of plastics and highlights the role of fossil fuel companies in rising plastic production.

Tamsin Walker reports for Deutsche Welle.

In short:

Annual virgin plastic production, largely fueled by fossil resources, is set to triple by 2060, with global recycling rates remaining at just 9%.
California’s lawsuit accuses ExxonMobil of misleading the public about the effectiveness of recycling and fostering increased reliance on single-use plastics.
ExxonMobil promotes advanced recycling technology, but critics claim it only addresses a small fraction of the waste problem.

Key quote:

“This kind of lawsuit really cements in people's minds this trend that lots of people haven't been connecting the impact these companies have on the climate crisis to the impact they have in other sectors.”

— Delphine Levi Alvares, global petrochemicals campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law

Why this matters:

Plastic pollution devastates ecosystems and human health, exacerbating the climate crisis. Curbing virgin plastic production, linked to fossil fuel reliance, is essential to reducing waste and environmental harm. Efforts like California’s lawsuit could pave the way for global regulatory action.

Learn more: California takes ExxonMobil to court over decades of plastic pollution deception

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