MOBIL CHEMICAL CORPORATION

This case study examines the legal and environmental controversies surrounding Mobil Chemical Company's introduction of 'degradable' Hefty garbage bags in 1989. It details the gap between consumer expectations of plastic degradability and the reality of landfill conditions, leading to lawsuits by seven U.S. states and the FTC for deceptive advertising.

• In June 1989, Mobil Chemical Company launched a line of degradable Hefty garbage bags, but by 1990, the company faced lawsuits from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general from seven states: California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. The lawsuits alleged that Mobil used deceptive advertising and consumer fraud by claiming the bags were 'degradable' without scientific proof that they would break down under normal disposal conditions.
• The primary environmental issue with 'degradable' plastics is that they often require specific conditions, such as direct sunlight for photodegradable plastics, to break down. However, modern landfills are designed to minimize exposure to air, water, and sunlight to prevent groundwater contamination and air pollution, meaning that bags buried in landfills may take many years to degrade or may not degrade at an appreciable rate.
• Environmental groups, such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Sierra Club, raised concerns that degradable plastics could hinder recycling efforts by misleading consumers into believing plastic will simply disappear. Additionally, there are concerns that these products could leach toxic chemicals into groundwater as they break down.
• Mobil Chemical's internal position was that degradability was a 'choice of last resort' and would not solve the solid waste problem. The company advocated for a waste management balance consisting of source reduction, recycling, incineration, and selective landfilling, aligned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's view.
• Despite its internal stance, Mobil introduced the degradable Hefty bags due to intense competitive pressure from brands like Glad Bags and Ruffles, as well as consumer demand and potential state legislation mandating degradable products.
• A task force of ten state attorneys general published 'The Green Report' (1990) and 'The Green Report II' (1991) to address rampant consumer confusion and 'greenwashing' in environmental marketing. They recommended that the federal government establish unified standards and definitions for terms like 'recycled' and 'compostable,' and that industry claims be specific and supported by competent scientific evidence.

APA

Spears, M., & Larson, A. (1992). MOBIL CHEMICAL CORPORATION. World Resources Institute. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-155-1_full_version_english.pdf

Chicago

Spears, Mark, and Andrea Larson. MOBIL CHEMICAL CORPORATION. World Resources Institute, 1992. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-155-1_full_version_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Spears |first1=Mark |last2=Larson |first2=Andrea |title=MOBIL CHEMICAL CORPORATION |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=1992 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-155-1_full_version_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{spears1992mobil, author = {Spears, Mark and Larson, Andrea}, title = {{MOBIL CHEMICAL CORPORATION}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {1992}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-155-1_full_version_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }