California gets tough with Big Oil over plastics

The US state of California has taken legal action against the US oil giant Exxon Mobil, filing lawsuits about the company’s alleged role in the growing plastic pollution crisis. California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, alongside a coalition of environmental NGOs, has initiated these lawsuits, which allege that Exxon took part in deceptive practices regarding plastic sustainability and recycling.

The core of the lawsuits stems from a two-year investigation, led by Bonta, which he describes as uncovering a “decades-long deception campaign” by the petrochemical industry. The complaints allege that Exxon has knowingly misled the public about the viability of plastics recycling, despite being aware of its limitations since the 1970s. The attorney general’s complaint includes multiple claims against Exxon, such as destruction of natural resources, false advertising, greenwashing, public nuisance, and unfair competition. 

In a recent statement, Exxon blamed California for an inefficient recycling programme and for not collaborating with them to improve the recycling system, instead of pursuing legal action. 

Also in California, the state governor, Gavin Newsom, has signed a bill to close loopholes in the state’s plastic bag ban, originally enacted in 2014. The original law prohibited single-use plastic bags, but allowed for some exemptions, such as bulk items, and permitted thicker plastic bags that were deemed reusable. 

The new law bans all plastic shopping bags in Californian grocery stores. This law will take effect on 1st January 2026, and will also tighten definitions for recycled paper bags by 2028. Environmental advocates, including Oceana, support the ban as a step towards reducing plastic pollution and protecting marine life. However, the plastic recycling industry expressed disappointment, arguing it could lead to increased use of non-recyclable alternatives.

Professional services network Deloitte has launched its 2024 CxO Sustainability Report, which reveals a growing shift in corporate climate action. Based on a survey of over 2,000 C-suite executives across 27 countries, the report finds that responding to the climate crisis remains a top priority for businesses, alongside keeping pace with innovation. 

The report found that 85% of businesses are increasing investments in sustainability, a 10% rise from 2023. Nearly 70% of businesses expect climate change to have a significant impact on corporate strategies within the next three years, with 45% already adjusting their business models. 

More than 90% of executives believe they can grow their businesses while reducing emissions. To accelerate the transition to sustainability, companies in the “moderate middle” – those currently taking few impactful actions – must expand their efforts. The encouraging news is that these businesses are ready for more action. The report describes the middle group as a “sleeping giant”; if these companies shift from moderate action to full mobilisation, they could create a tipping point, driving rapid progress in corporate climate action.

South America is facing its worst forest fire season in nearly 20 years, with millions of acres burning across the continent. The fires, intensified by the region’s worst drought on record, have been predicted by climate scientists for decades. Brazil, the largest country, is particularly hard-hit, with 59% of the country experiencing drought and fires ravaging the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal regions.

Satellite data, reported on climate news website Grist, has identified over 346,000 fire hotspots across the continent, with smoke visible from space. Climate scientists have long predicted this crisis, linking it to climate change and the El Niño weather pattern.

Experts warn that the fires will continue until the rains return, which is increasingly uncertain. Deforestation, largely driven by human activities, exacerbates the fire risk, as clearing land creates conditions for uncontrolled wildfires.

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has emphasised the urgency of addressing these issues, noting that all municipalities in the drought-stricken Amazonas state have declared emergencies. Despite efforts to reduce deforestation, illegal land clearing continues to pose a significant threat to the Amazon's biodiversity and its role as a carbon sink.

While the date for the implementation of the EU’s deforestation regulation remains unclear, a coalition of influential companies – including Ecosia, Oatly, Patagonia, Tony's Chocolonely and Triodos Bank – has [TR1] formally urged the European Commission to adopt stronger regulatory measures. In an open letter addressed to the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, these businesses called for a commitment to a “fair and sustainable economy” in the upcoming EU mandate. The companies advocated for ambitious regulation frameworks and synchronisation of the various frameworks. 

The letter also calls for the establishment of a European Green Industrial Deal centred around circular economy principles, and for the effective implementation of the Environmental Crime Directive. This directive would impose stringent penalties for severe ecological damage, thus holding corporations accountable for their environmental impact.

The coalition calls on the European Commission to avoid any delays and ensure that the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is synchronised with the various other reporting frameworks. 

UK supermarket chain Asda has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Too Good To Go, a surplus food marketplace, as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce food waste. This initiative will now encompass nearly 1,000 locations, including various Asda supermarkets, Asda Express stores, and foodservice outlets such as LEON, Greggs, Sbarro, and Subway. 

Customers can buy surplus food in “Surprise Bags” through the app, containing items like ready meals, bakery products, and more, at a fraction of the original price. The initiative follows a successful trial and aims to redirect surplus food from waste, having saved over 2m kilogrammes of food since the partnership began in 2021.

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy is facing renewed criticism, this time from the European Court of Auditors. A recent report by the ECA found that the CAP national strategic plans for 2023-27 are "greener than in the previous CAP period, but do not match the EU's ambitions for the climate and the environment". Key elements for assessing green performance are missing, and the plans fall short of the goals set by the European Green Deal, particularly the Farm to Fork strategy. 

As reported by the Financial Times, the auditors recommended that the Commission strengthens the future CAP monitoring framework on climate and environmental performance. The report stresses that achieving Green Deal targets largely relies on actions outside the CAP, highlighting significant gaps in integrating climate goals into CAP legislation.