A new report has shown that concern about the fossil fuel and plastics industries’ alleged deception about recycling is growing, with new polling showing a majority of American voters, including 54% of Republicans, support legal efforts to hold the sectors accountable.
The industries have faced increasing scrutiny for their role in the global plastics pollution crisis, including an ongoing California investigation and dozens of suits filed over the last decade against consumer brands that sell plastics.
Research published earlier this year found that plastic producers have known for decades that plastic recycling is too cumbersome and expensive to ever become a feasible waste management solution, but promoted it to the public anyway.
The revelations from fossil fuel accountability advocacy group Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) sparked calls for legal action from advocates and officials. But no lawsuits have yet been filed about this alleged disinformation campaign.
Now, new polling data shared with the Guardian shows that 70% of American voters would support such litigation, including a majority of Republicans.
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The results show that “regardless of your politics, no one is really OK with a corporation lying to consumers”, said CCI investigative researcher Davis Allen, who led the organization’s report.
The survey of 1,200 likely American voters was conducted in August by the CCI and the progressive polling firm Data for Progress. The polling sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography and voting history.
Asked to gauge their level of worry about plastic waste in waterways, 63% said they were “very concerned”, including 73% of Democrats, 60% of independents and 53% of Republicans. A majority also indicated some level of worry about plastic litter in their communities, plastic waste in landfills and microplastics in their bodies.
Participants were then informed that some officials, citing evidence of deception, have called for litigation against the plastics and fossil fuel industries for their role in plastic pollution. Majorities from every political affiliation said they would back the efforts, including not only 54% of Republicans but also 88% of Democrats and 66% of independents.
The poll went on to ask respondents about the industry’s well-known “chasing arrows” symbol, which plastic producers have been using since the 1980s. Though it is widely recognized as a symbol for recyclable plastic, it is often used on products that are not recyclable at all, the poll explained.
Most respondents, 62%, strongly agreed that putting the chasing arrows symbol on a non-recyclable plastic product is deceptive, including 57% of Republicans. Half of voters remained in strong agreement that the symbol would be deceptive if placed on plastic products that are technically recyclable but not usually recycled in practice.’
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
