PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 26, 2025) –  On Wednesday, September 24, the City of Philadelphia, with co-counsel Hausfeld LLP, filed a lawsuit against Bimbo Bakeries and S.C. Johnson & Son, alleging that the companies have misled consumers by deceptively advertising that the single-use plastic bags they produce are recyclable. 

Some of the companies’ products are labeled in a way that, according to the lawsuit, would mislead consumers to believe that their plastic bags can be recycled in the Philadelphia recycling system. Since this is not the case, this packaging has caused damage to the City’s recycling infrastructure, creating more waste and increasing costs. As part of the lawsuit, the City seeks an injunction ordering the companies to change their marketing of these products to be more transparent about their actual recyclability. If these materials can be kept from disrupting recycling streams, it will ultimately improve the efficiency of the City’s recycling system while giving consumers peace of mind when they seek to make environmentally-conscious purchases. 

Lawrence Hafetz, Clean Air Council Legal Director, issued the following statement:

“We applaud the City of Philadelphia’s efforts to hold those in the plastics industry accountable to the public. This plastic waste not only fills up our landfills, it is a major source of pollution in all of Pennsylvania’s natural resources and waterways. At the very least, this industry must be clear with the public as to when, if ever, their products are recyclable.”