Andrew Forrest has taken a ‘bring it on’ stance in response to ExxonMobil’s defamation lawsuit, which it has filed against Forrest’s Intergenerational Environment Justice Fund (IEJF), California Attorney-General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups.
Conspiracy to harm reputation
The lawsuit, filed in California’s Eastern District, alleges a conspiracy to harm the fossil fuel giant’s reputation over plastics waste and advanced recycling claims.
It accuses the IEJF – a subsidiary of Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation – and other defendants, including the Sierra Club and San Francisco Baykeeper, of running a “smear campaign”.
ExxonMobil claims the campaign inaccurately described its advanced recycling technology as a "false promise" and misrepresented its role in the plastics industry.
ExxonMobil contends that Minderoo’s 2021 Plastic Waste Makers Index identified it as the largest producer of plastic polymers used in single-use plastics, a claim the company denies, and that Minderoo made several deceptive statements about ExxonMobil in its reports on plastics waste and recycling technologies.
The suit further claims that Forrest, after failing to garner interest in a 2019 levy on virgin plastics in the US, became an outspoken critic of ExxonMobil and the broader plastics industry.
Additionally, ExxonMobil alleges IEJF paid significant sums to US law firm Cotchett to fund litigation against it, tying this to Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) Group's competitive interests in the low-carbon energy sector.
Forrest defiant
In response, Forrest accused the fossil fuel industry of prioritising profits over societal welfare, saying: "I am personally delighted Exxon (NYSE:XOM) has walked themselves into the court and opened themselves up to cross-examination."
Fortescue, though not named as a defendant, rejected ExxonMobil’s allegations, asserting it had no involvement in orchestrating litigation against the oil giant.
A Minderoo spokesperson defended the Plastic Waste Makers Index and its findings, highlighting collaboration with reputable research partners.
ExxonMobil’s lawsuit also takes aim at California Attorney-General Rob Bonta, alleging connections between his office and the law firm Cotchett, which it claims donated to his political campaigns.
Bonta’s office recently sued oil companies over their alleged role in the global plastics waste crisis.