Charmin Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit Moves Forward

A New York federal judge denied Procter & Gamble’s motion to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit, which will allow plaintiffs to pursue an injunction against the manufacturer of Charmin brand flushable wipes.

The Procter & Gamble flushable wipes class action lawsuit stems from allegations that the company misrepresented that their product Charmin Freshmates are flushable when, according to lead plaintiff Anthony Belfiore, “they do not break down sufficiently to pass through pipes and that they cause serious problems for property owners and municipalities.”

U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein stated that declining the request from lead plaintiff Belfiore for an injunction to stop Procter & Gamble from claiming that Charmin Freshmates are flushable would not be upholding state statutes that were created to help customers who feel “cheated” by manufacturers.

The flushable wipes lawsuit was removed from the New York Supreme Court in 2014 after claims from plaintiff Belfiore that Charmin Freshmates caused a clogged toilet and his sewer to backup. Belfiore allegedly had to pay a plumber more than $500 in order to remove the wipes.

Procter & Gamble argued that Belfiore’s plumbing issues were due to pipes that were nearly 100 years old after the company sent a master plumber to inspect the situation.

If the flushable wipes class action lawsuit is approved, class members would include all individuals and entities that purchased Charmin Freshmates between May 23, 2011 and May 23, 2014. Lead plaintiff Belfiore claims that he and potential class members paid a higher price for the wet wipes based on manufacturer claims that they were septic safe and flushable.

The Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit is Belfiore v. The Procter & Gamble Co., Case No. 2:14-cv-04090, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

UPDATE: On Feb. 3, 2017, a New York federal judge granted Class certification in this flushable wipes class action lawsuit.

UPDATE 2: On Oct. 31, 2018,consumers have secured a settlementin a class action lawsuit alleging Charmin’s so-called flushable wipes are not as plumbing friendly as advertised.

UPDATE 3: April 2020, the New York Charmin Freshmates flushable wipes class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.

Are Flushable Wipes Actually Flushable?

Flushable wipes were designed as an alternative to toilet tissue and are marketed as being able to break down after flushing making them sewer and septic safe. However, a 2013 Consumer Reports test analyzed four different flushable wipe brands and discovered that it took nearly 10 minutes to break down flushable toilet wipes into small pieces when placing them in a stand mixer. Experts claim there is not enough vigorous churning within a toilet that would allow for the proper breakdown of moist towelettes.

The wet wipe industry creates $6 billion in sales annually with flushable bathroom wipes representing a significant part of that revenue. However, flushable wipe consumers are reporting an increase in toilet problems including clogged pipes and backed up septic tanks.

These concerns have lead to a flushable wipe class action lawsuit investigation as plaintiffs claim they would not have purchased the disposable wipes had they known it could cause toilet and septic problems.

Flushable wipes class action lawsuits seek to reimburse plaintiffs for toilet and sewer repair bills as well as the cost of the moist wipes product.

Join a Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased one of the following flushable wet wipes, you may qualify to join a free class action lawsuit investigation:

• Babyganics® flushable wipes
• Charmin Freshmates
• CVS flushable wipes
• Equate® flushable wipes by Wal-Mart
• Kandoo® flushable wipes by Pampers
• up & up® flushable wipes by Target
• Walgreens flushable wipes
• Other flushable wipe products

Join Now