Big Oil and Chemical Giants Sued Over Plastic Recycling "Lies"

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit accuses major oil and chemical companies of misleading the public about plastic recyclability, leading to environmental damage and inflated prices.

Consumers Affected: Consumers in the U.S. who purchased plastics since 1990.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Eleven of the world’s largest oil and chemical companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Dow Chemical, are being accused of a decades-long campaign of deception in a new lawsuit filed by members of the public. 

The lawsuit claims the corporations coordinated to falsely market plastics as recyclable, knowing full well that only a tiny fraction of plastic waste is ever repurposed. This alleged misinformation drove increased plastic production, inflated prices, and left municipalities grappling with massive sanitation costs, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs, Billie Rodriguez, Daniel Erwin, Michael B. Ackerman, and Kyle Foreman who all purchased plastic products from the companies in various states, allege the companies’ profit-driven campaign not only misled consumers but also delayed meaningful regulations to curb the environmental damage caused by plastics. 

They are seeking damages for inflated costs and a ban on advertising plastics as recyclable, arguing that accountability is long overdue.

Companies Misled Public on Recycling for Decades, Lawsuit Says

The complaint paints a picture of a calculated strategy dating back to the 1950s. The industry promoted plastics as a “disposable convenience,” even as internal research revealed the impracticality of large-scale recycling. Through trade associations and front groups, petrochemical companies launched campaigns to assure the public that recycling was the solution to plastic waste, effectively greenwashing their products.

By perpetuating the myth of recyclability, these companies protected and expanded markets for virgin plastics. Meanwhile, they ignored the technological and economic barriers that make recycling most plastics unviable. Today, less than 6% of plastic in the U.S. is recycled, with most ending up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.

The lawsuit lays out a timeline of how the companies producing plastic presented it to the public:

• 1950s: Plastics were marketed as disposable, fueling single-use consumption.
• 1970s-1980s: Amid growing backlash, the industry pivoted to promoting recycling while lobbying against bans on single-use plastics.
• 1990s-2010s: Companies doubled down on misinformation campaigns, convincing the public that plastics could be recycled despite evidence to the contrary.
• Today: The recycling narrative persists, with trade groups employing PR firms to counter anti-plastic sentiment.

The lawsuit alleges this decades-long strategy has stalled progress on meaningful waste solutions and shifted the burden of cleanup onto consumers and governments.

Plastic Pollution Crisis and Environmental Impact

Plastics are now a global crisis, polluting oceans, air, and even human bodies. Microplastics—tiny fragments resulting from degraded waste—have been found in drinking water, food, and even human organs. These particles pose potential health risks, from developmental disorders to cancer, while also harming marine ecosystems.

The carbon footprint of plastics is staggering, with production and disposal contributing 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Without intervention, experts warn these emissions could double by 2060, according to the EPA.

Other Environmental Lawsuits Target Corporate Accountability

This lawsuit is part of a growing wave of environmental litigation aimed at holding corporations accountable for pollution and public harm. In New York, a town has taken legal action against Verizon, accusing the telecom giant of leaving lead-coated cables in the environment, where they allegedly leached toxins into soil and water. 

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Shell faces a lawsuit over emissions from an ethylene cracker plant that residents claim have damaged homes and health.

In California, homeowners have sued federal agencies and private companies for failing to address sewage pollution from Tijuana, which has severely impacted property values and quality of life. These cases reflect a broader trend: communities are increasingly turning to the courts to demand accountability, particularly when regulatory action falls short. Legal challenges like these emphasize the power of litigation as a tool for systemic change and environmental justice.

In their lawsuit against the plastics companies, the plaintiffs want an injunction to prohibit them from advertising their plastic products as recyclable and damages for the increased cost of plastic products they purchased. They are also seeking damages, fees, costs, and interest.

They want to represent anyone in the U.S. who purchased plastics in the country since 1990 in the lawsuit that is accusing violations of the Sherman Act and various state consumer protection laws, as well as unjust enrichment.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Rodriguez, et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, et al.
• Case Number: 4:24-cv-00803-SRB
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Rex A. Sharp, Isaac L. Diel, W. Greg Wright, Sarah T. Bradshaw, Hammons P. Hepner, and Brandon C. Landt (Sharp Law, LLP)

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