Tyson net-zero lawsuit overview:
- Who: The nonprofit Environmental Working Group filed a lawsuit against Tyson Foods Inc.
- Why: Environmental Working Group claims that Tyson falsely advertises its pledge to achieve net-zero climate emissions by 2050 despite taking no steps to achieve this goal.
- Where: The Tyson lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
The second-largest U.S. meat company is facing a class action lawsuit over its allegedly false claims about its climate initiatives.
Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit activist organization, claims Tyson Foods Inc. capitalizes on consumers’ growing desire to purchase environmentally-friendly foods by advertising its pledge to achieve “net-zero” climate emissions by 2050 and marketing “climate-smart” beef.
However, the Tyson net-zero lawsuit asserts the meat company “has no plans to achieve these goals” and is not taking any meaningful steps to make an impact.
Industrial animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the top five animal protein companies are estimated to produce more emissions than BP, ExxonMobil or Shell, the Tyson lawsuit claims.
“Industrialized beef production has an enormous climate impact and is responsible for more GHG emissions than any other major food product,” according to the Tyson net-zero lawsuit.
The plaintiff says 85% of Tyson’s greenhouse gas emissions come from its beef production.
Tyson lawsuit says consumers willing to pay more for foods less harmful to climate
Consumers are increasingly aware of the food industry’s contribution to harmful climate pollution and are willing to pay a higher price for foods that are less harmful to the climate, the plaintiff alleges.
Tyson is allegedly concerned about consumers choosing to purchase other food products if they believe Tyson meat is contributing to the climate crisis. In response to this concern, Environmental Working Group says the company is boasting false Tyson net-zero emissions claims and “climate-smart” beef.
Yet Tyson has “failed to articulate a plan to eliminate the vast emissions associated” with meat and feed production and has not explained how its industrially produced beef is “climate-smart,” the Tyson lawsuit claims.
The Tyson net-zero emissions marketing allegedly violates the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The plaintiff asked the court to declare Tyson’s conduct violates the CPPA and require the company to clear up consumers’ misunderstanding about its industrial beef production’s climate impact.
A separate Tyson class action lawsuit filed last year alleged the company failed to honor religious exemption paperwork, and unlawfully terminated employees who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
What do you think about the Tyson net-zero emissions claims? Join the discussion in the comments.
Environmental Working Group is represented by Carrie Apfel, Peter Lehner and Ashley Ingram of Earthjustice, Aaron Colangelo and Jimmy R. Rock of Edelson PC; Kelsey R. Eberly and Nathan Leys of farmSTAND; and Amanda Howell and Michael Swistara of Animal Legal Defense Fund.
The Tyson net-zero lawsuit is Environmental Working Group v. Tyson Foods Inc., Case No. 2024-CAB-005935, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Civil Division.
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2 thoughts onTyson lawsuit alleges meat company makes false net-zero claims
please add me
Yes please I need to sue them anyway