New polling reveals that a large majority of U.S. voters, including 54 percent of Republicans, support holding the fossil fuel and plastics industries accountable for misleading the public about the feasibility of recycling. The industries have faced growing scrutiny for their role in exacerbating the global plastics pollution crisis, with ongoing investigations and lawsuits adding pressure to reform their practices.
The survey, conducted by the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) and Data for Progress, shows that 70 percent of likely U.S. voters would support legal action to hold the plastics and fossil fuel industries accountable for alleged deception. This is a notable bipartisan agreement, with majorities across political affiliations backing litigation. Specifically, 54 percent of Republicans, 66 percent of independents, and 88 percent of Democrats indicated their support for lawsuits against these industries.
The poll also highlights widespread concern about plastic waste, with 63 percent of respondents expressing that they are “very concerned” about the issue, including 53 percent of Republicans. Majorities also expressed concern about plastic litter in their communities, plastic waste in landfills, and the potential for microplastics to enter their bodies.
One of the central issues driving these concerns is the long-standing claim by the plastics industry that recycling could adequately address the waste problem. However, research indicates that plastic producers have known for decades that recycling is too cumbersome and expensive to be a viable waste management solution. Despite this, they promoted recycling as the solution to plastic waste, misleading the public about the true scale of the problem.
As Davis Allen, CCI investigative researcher and lead author of the report, pointed out, “Regardless of your politics, no one is really OK with a corporation lying to consumers.”
In fact, the poll revealed that most voters strongly agreed that using the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol on products that aren’t truly recyclable is deceptive. Specifically, 62 percent of respondents agreed that this practice was misleading, including 57% of Republicans. Half of the voters maintained that even if a product was technically recyclable but rarely recycled in practice, the use of the symbol would still be considered deceptive.
The debate over plastics recycling is part of a larger conversation about corporate accountability in the context of environmental degradation. A 2021 Greenpeace report found that only 5 percent of U.S. household plastic waste was actually recycled, highlighting a stark contrast between public perception and reality. In the CCI poll, respondents estimated the recycling rate to be around 45 percent, a gross overestimation of the true number, underscoring the impact of decades of misinformation.
The deception surrounding recycling is drawing comparisons to other industries that have been accused of misleading the public about the environmental and health consequences of their products, such as the opioid and tobacco industries. When respondents were told about these comparisons, 68 percent said they believed the plastics industry should be held responsible for the waste crisis. Similarly, 59 percent felt the fossil fuel industry should be held accountable as well, given its role in producing plastic from petroleum.
Although no lawsuits have yet been filed regarding the plastics industry’s alleged disinformation campaign, pressure is building. California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, launched an investigation into fossil fuel and petrochemical companies for their role in causing the global plastics pollution crisis. ExxonMobil, a major contributor to global plastic waste, was issued a subpoena as part of the investigation.
“California’s investigation is the first to focus on not only the fossil fuel and petrochemical companies that produce plastic but also their deceptive and fraudulent conduct in promoting recycling as a false solution to the plastic waste crisis,” said Alyssa Johl, CCI’s vice-president and general counsel. “If that investigation results in a lawsuit, it would be the first of its kind, and our findings show the public would support it.”
The plastics industry, represented by America’s Plastic Makers, has pushed back against these claims. “It is disappointing that misconceptions about the plastics industry are diverting attention from real solutions,” said Ross Eisenberg, the president of the group. He added that the industry is working on developing new technologies and setting internal goals to increase plastic recycling rates.
However, environmental advocates argue that these efforts are too little, too late, and insufficient given the scale of the plastics crisis. U.S. organizations and municipalities have already filed 60 lawsuits against consumer brands over plastic pollution, accusing them of breaches of environmental regulations and greenwashing, among other charges. Additionally, two dozen state and municipal lawsuits accusing the fossil fuel industry of climate deception are making their way through U.S. courts.
The CCI poll suggests that public opinion is shifting decisively in favor of holding the plastics and fossil fuel industries accountable for their role in plastic pollution. As voters become more aware of the environmental damage caused by plastic waste and the industries’ alleged deception, the pressure for legal action and systemic reform is likely to grow.
“The companies lied,” said Richard Wiles, president of CCI. “It’s time to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.”
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