Page 46 - Plastics News December 2020

Greenpeace sues Walmart over plastic recycling US lawmakers pass marine debris legislation-
claims Save Our Seas 2.0

reenpeace has sued Walmart Inc., claiming its
Gpackaging on private-label products is hard to
recycle. Environmental activist group Greenpeace
accused Walmart of falsely labeling items as recyclable
and asked a California court to compel the retailer to
stop making the claims. Greenpace filed a lawsuit on
December 14, that is focused on Walmart's recycling

B oth chambers of Congress have now passed marine
debris prevention legislation, which includes
millions of dollars in support to states for recycling and
other materials management initiatives. The U.S.
Senate earlier this month passed a final version of S.
1982, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, after the bill was
amended and approved by the U.S. House of
Representatives in October. The legislation now goes to
President Donald Trump for final approval. The bill
labels for packaging made from plastics Nos. 3-7, authorizes $55 million in grant funds, which will be
laying out the relatively low processing capacity for available for states to “support improvements to local
these 3-7 plastics. The lawsuit includes as examples post-consumer materials management, including
applesauce and yogurt cups made from 3-7 plastics municipal recycling programs,” and similar efforts. It
(the complaint doesn't specifically identify the resin). also creates a prize to support projects related to
The lawsuit takes issue with the How2Recycle labels on
preventing marine debris. These projects can include
the products, labels that identify the packaging as
“innovations in production and packaging design that
either recyclable with certain instructions, or reduce the use of raw materials, increase recycled
recyclable depending on local regulations.
content, encourage reusability and recyclability, and
Greenpeace says these claims are leading consumers to
promote a circular economy,” according to the Act.
believe products will be recycled, despite low capacity
They can also include general improvements to
to recycle these materials in the U.S. “In their haste to
lure customers to environmentally friendly products increase collection, processing, sorting and more.
and packaging, Defendants are making environmental Additionally, the bill triggers a report by the U.S. EPA
marketing claims that are false, misleading, and examining U.S. plastics production, environmental
deceptive,” Greenpeace alleged in the lawsuit, which impact, recycling rates, feasibility of recycled content
was filed in California's Alameda County Superior standards, and more. The American Chemistry Council
Court. Greenpeace alleges the labeling violates (ACC) praised the Senate passage of the legislation,
California consumer protection laws, including the noting it “creates a revolving fund to strengthen our
California Environmental Marketing Claims Act (EMCA). domestic recycling infrastructure.” The Solid Waste
The lawsuit asks the court to compel Walmart to Association of North America (SWANA) also issued a
change its labeling and conduct a “corrective” statement in support of the bill, urging President Trump
advertising campaign stating that the recyclability
to sign the legislation. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act follows
claims were false. In a statement, a Walmart
the Save Our Seas Act of 2018, which was signed into
spokesperson said the company will defend itself and
law, reauthorizing and revising the national Marine
noted Walmart has been in previous contact with
Greenpeace about the product labels. Debris Program.

DECEMBER 2020 46 Plastics News