Attorney General James Uthmeier of Florida is leading a coalition with attorneys general from Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana to address concerns about the actions of several environmental groups. The coalition alleges that these organizations have worked with large corporations to establish recycling practices that may violate antitrust laws.
“Radical environmental activists do not have the right, nor the avenue, to suppress business operations in our market,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We have reason to believe that the policies of the Consumer Goods Forum, the Green Blue Institute, and the U.S. Plastics Pact are hindering states’ economic prosperity by coordinating business behavior, which would constitute violations of Florida’s antitrust laws. We will not allow these activist organizations to push misguided policies that can’t win at the ballot box and inflate prices for Florida consumers.”
The coalition points out that groups such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Consumer Goods Forum, and Green Blue Institute have encouraged major companies to adopt uniform standards for plastic production and packaging. According to officials, this collective approach could limit competition among businesses and raise costs for consumers by dictating what materials are considered recyclable and setting shared targets for production.
The attorneys general sent letters requesting explanations from these organizations about how their coordinated activities comply with state and federal antitrust regulations. They also asked for supporting documentation related to their practices.
Officials involved in the inquiry say they are concerned about possible collusion or manipulation within markets as a result of participation in these collective action groups. The investigation will continue over the coming months, focusing on whether certain corporations gained unfair advantages or if consumers were misled regarding sustainable packaging goals.
