Earth Day 2022: Companies Accused of Greenwashing
When companies green it, they better mean it.
Kirkland Signature
The Latest
CATrends: ‘100% Recyclable’ Water Bottles
Bottled-water brands mislead consumers who want to “do their part” and recycle, class-action lawsuits allege.
Deceptive Wine Ratings Displays Plague CT Liquor Stores
TINA.org investigation finds ratings don’t match vintage of bottles sold on store shelf.
Consumers Claim This Joint is Not Jumping
Multiple class actions filed about glucosamine.
Class-Action Tracker
Scotts Naturals Flushable Moist Wipes and More
Allegations: Deceptively marketing wipes as “flushable”
Kirkland Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack
Allegations: Failing to disclose products contain heavy metals, toxins, and contaminants
Costco’s Kirkland Signature Ground Himalayan Pink Salt
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “Himalayan” and coming from “the heart of the Himalayan Mountains” when the salt comes from Pakistan
Kirkland Signature Black Raspberry Sparkling Water
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing black raspberries are a flavoring ingredient in sparkling waters
Kirkland Pet Foods
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing pet foods as “grain free” and containing only certain ingredients when they contain wheat and other unlisted ingredients
Recyclability Claims on Arrowhead, Poland Spring, Niagara, and Other Bottled Waters
Allegations: False “100% Recyclable” claims
Recyclability Claims on Niagara, Kirkland, and Other Bottled Waters
Allegations: False “100% Recyclable” claims
Kirkland Signature Chocolate Almond Dipped Vanilla Ice Cream Bar
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that ice cream bars are coated in chocolate when the coating contains ingredients not found in chocolate
Kirkland Signature Chocolate Almond Dipped Vanilla Ice Cream Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing that ice cream bars are dipped in chocolate when the coating is actually a chocolate substitute
Recyclability Claims on Dasani, Poland Spring and Other Bottled Waters
Allegations: False “100% Recyclable” claims
Optifiber Natural Prebiotic Fiber Supplement
In September 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corp. for allegedly falsely marketing Optifiber Natural Prebiotic Fiber Supplement as “natural” when, according to plaintiffs, the supplement contains…
Kirkland Signature Cleaners
April 2019: This action was voluntarily dismissed because the parties reached a settlement agreement, the terms have not been disclosed. May 2018: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale…
Kirkland Signature Extra Strength Glucosamine and Chondroitin Joint Health Products
November 2018: This case was transferred to federal court. (Case No. 18-cv-2646, S. D. CA.) October 2018: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco for allegedly falsely advertising Kirkland Signature…
Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Fish Oils
In February 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco for allegedly falsely marketing Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Fish Oil as containing 1,050 mg unsaturated fatty acids consisting of 330…
The Packaging of Kirkland Signature Premium Chunk Chicken Breast
February 2018: Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the order dismissing this case. January 2018: A federal judge granted the company’s motion to dismiss concluding that plaintiffs’ claims are…
Kirkland Coconut Oil
July 2017: A federal judge preliminarily approved a settlement agreement that would resolve the claims in this case. According to the settlement terms, each class member will be awarded a…
Costco Kettle Chips
November 2015: This case was stayed pending the resolution of three similar cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. November 2014: A federal judge dismissed some of the state…
Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes
April 2017: This case was transferred to a court in Oregon. (Case No. 17-cv-567, D. Ore.) May 2015: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corporation and Nice-Pak Products,…
VitaRain Water
May 2016: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the dismissal of the action without prejudice and instructed the district court to re-enter its dismissal judgment When a complaint is…
Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Fish Oil
In February 2017, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Trident Seafoods Corp. and Costco for allegedly falsely marketing Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Fish Oil. According to the complaint, the companies…