Emerging Trends in Plastics Litigation - April 2025

Heightened media attention and a growing number of studies regarding the environmental and human health impacts of plastics have led to a significant increase in the volume and nature of claims targeting the production, use, and disposal of plastics.

Both the plaintiffs’ bar and state attorneys general have brought claims against the members of the plastics industry value chain, ranging from producers of raw materials used in the production of plastics and manufacturers of plastic products and packagings to distributors of plastic products and packagings and retailers of plastic products and products packaged in plastic.

This presentation will focus on the proliferation of such litigation in key areas including public nuisance claims, consumer protection and greenwashing cases, property damage/personal injury claims, and claims of plastics recycling fraud, as well as the insurance coverage implications. Our team will highlight factors driving the recent litigation, walk through representative cases likely to be of particular interest, and offer a discussion of best practices for mitigating litigation risk.