October 4, 2023 (Berkeley, CA) — Earth Island Institute (Earth Island) has filed an amended complaint in its landmark lawsuit against several major consumer goods companies, including giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé USA, Inc. (now BlueTriton Brands), alleging their packaging is contributing to the plastic pollution crisis and that the companies are using unfair and deceptive business practices to promote their products and recycling capabilities. Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy is representing Earth Island in this matter.
Earlier this year, Judge V. Raymond Swope of the Superior Court of California of the County of San Mateo ruled on motions challenging Earth Island’s original complaint, and directed Earth Island to amend the complaint to address certain issues.
Monday’s amended complaint includes additional facts and data to support the public nuisance claim against the companies and adds a new claim under California’s unfair competition law, which prohibits any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice.
“More than half a billion metric tons of single-use plastic have been produced since we filed our original complaint in February 2020 while plastic waste recycling has dropped further into the single digits,” said Sumona Majumdar, Earth Island Institute’s chief executive officer. “It is imperative that the companies that use all this plastic bear responsibility for this mess. And just like the oil and gas companies being held accountable by the State of California for denying the role of fossil fuels in climate change, we must also hold these corporations accountable for their representations to the public about plastic recycling.”
Earth Island Institute, a leading nonprofit environmental organization based in Berkeley, California, develops programs and supports projects that counteract threats to the planet’s biological and cultural diversity. Earth Island also plays a leading role in efforts to fight plastic pollution and protect our oceans, coasts, and marine life.
Earth Island has filed this case in its own right and on behalf of the following sponsored projects:
Additional information about this lawsuit can be found here.
Contacts:
Sumona Majumdar, Earth Island Chief Executive Officer,
sumona@earthisland.org, (510) 859-9120
Tyson Redenbarger, Attorney, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy
tredenbarger@cpmlegal.com, 650-697-6000