California has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil alleging it falsely promoted the recyclability of plastic, becoming the first US state seeking to hold an oil major accountable for plastic pollution.

The lawsuit alleges Exxon, one of the world’s largest producers of plastic, deceived the public for half a century about the sustainability of its plastic products, which include the polymers found in plastic packaging, utensils and beverage bottles. The lawsuit seeks damages from the oil group for harms inflicted from plastic production.

“For decades, ExxonMobil has been deceiving the public to convince us that plastic recycling could solve the plastic waste and pollution crisis when they clearly knew this wasn’t possible,” said California attorney-general Rob Bonta. “ExxonMobil lied to further its record-breaking profits at the expense of our planet and possibly jeopardising our health.”