Catherina D. Narigon and L. Claire Hansen, “Plastics Industry Faces Rising Tide of Litigation, Regulation and Reputational Risk,” Chemical Processing, May 13, 2026.

Stakeholders in the plastics industry are facing unique challenges as new laws, policies and public scrutiny reshape the regulatory landscape for plastic products, labeling and waste streams. Litigation can create resource burdens on defendants and impose economic hardship via litigation costs or declines in consumer trust stemming from the litigation — regardless of the outcome. Common claims in such suits include violations of environmental protection standards, public nuisance due to pollution and state consumer protection statute grounds alleging misleading or untruthful claims about the impacts of plastic products, false advertising about the chemical composition of plastic products and contamination of waterways. New claims are emerging seemingly every day.