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Writer's pictureLily Holbrook

California's bold move against ExxonMobil's plastic recycling deception is changing the music industry


Plastic in the strandline on a sunny beach

A new wave of plastic-free action is emerging: one that has just seen the state of California take on industry giant ExxonMobil in a bold stand against the company's recycling deception (that's lasted decades, FYI). Why are we talking about a recycling scandal and how does it relate to the music industry?


Here's everything you need to know.


You’ve heard reduce, reuse, recycle a million times - a message amplified for decades by oil giants to divert attention from their own environmental destruction. 


ExxonMobil is the world's largest producer of resins used for single-use plastics - and despite claims by the company that they recycle much of their plastic waste, US officials and environmental groups [including Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Bay and San Francisco Baykeeper] are calling on Exxon to finally come clean about their (less than clean) intentions.


Fuelled by controversy around Exxon's 'advanced recycling' technology, alleged by California Attorney General Rob Bonta to have misled Californians into excessive plastic consumption, the state is taking a stand for the harm inflicted by plastic pollution on California, with estimated damages expected to total multiple billions of dollars.


"For decades, ExxonMobil has been deceiving the public to convince us that plastic recycling could solve the plastic waste and pollution crisis when they clearly knew this wasn't possible"
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

Placing accountability on the giants that have deceived us into believing that recycling can magic away our plastic crisis, California is making a bold move!


However, a lawsuit relying on 'public nuisance' faces an uphill battle in the global fight against plastic pollution, especially as Exxon views it as something else entirely: the state of California shifting blame for a broken recycling system.


But wait! There's a silver lining. As California spirals towards its single-use breaking point and Exxon insists its innocence, enter a third perspective. 


"This lawsuit is finally creating the precedent we've been waiting to see come about. Our dancefloors have suffered so much from the false narrative dictated by petrochemical companies slowing down evolutions for way too long. It's time to turn it on its head, and evolve together. As we applaud bold moves from governors of the likes of Gavin Newsom and Rob Bonta, we recognise music's role going further as a powerful force here to speed up this tidal wave of change"
Camille Guitteau, Bye Bye Plastic Foundation Co-Founder

As a music-led organisation galvanised by the need to shift our plastic landscape into a scene where everyone can dance to the beat of a better tomorrow, we're under no illusion that the time is now for a circular revolution.


Trust us: we've seen the single-use cups, straws and mountains of plastic waste discarded after heady weekend festivals, parties, raves and club nights all over the world.


But we've also seen that change is possible.


From #PlasticFreeParty to #RamèneTaGourde, Bye Bye Plastic is leading a grassroots movement. From the beating groundswell of underground innovators to era-defining artistic creators - this is where change happens.


A circular economy exists in the music industry and it starts with you.


Wanna be part of the plastic-free charge? Get involved today 🚀


Music is the Connection, Collective Action is the Solution











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