Five Companies Settle Lawsuit Over Misleading 'Biodegradable' Claims on Disposable Tableware

Five Israeli companies have reached a settlement with the environmental organization "Zalul" regarding misleading claims on disposable tableware, agreeing to remove "green" marketing from their products. The companies, Max Stock, Winpack Trade, Adom Food Import, R. Shamai Import and Marketing, and H. Cohen Import Marketing and Logistics, were sued by Zalul for marketing products made from sugarcane and palm leaves as biodegradable, despite them not decomposing under typical Israeli conditions. Consumers were allegedly charged up to 600% more for these items, which were labeled "Biodegradable" and "Eco-friendly," creating a false impression of environmental friendliness.

The settlement, approved by the court, requires the companies to alter their labeling and remove green symbols from the disposable tableware sold in retail chains. If any such products remain on shelves after six months, the companies must either stop selling them or clearly label them as requiring industrial composting facilities, which are not widely available in Israel. Zalul views the settlement as an improvement in consumer information, with CEO Mor Gilboa emphasizing that reusable alternatives are the most environmentally sound option.

The lawsuit highlighted the global issue of single-use plastic, with 460 million tons produced annually, much of it for short-term use and with low recycling rates. The article notes that even products marketed as eco-friendly can break down into toxic particles. In Israel, 17% of the public has used such "biodegradable" tableware, and 37% express interest in switching to eco-friendly options. However, the reality is that most of these products end up in landfills, where they can release potent greenhouse gases like methane or break down into microplastics.

Experts cited in the article, including Dr. Hagit Olenovsky, a risk management specialist, state that no material truly "disappears" and that "biodegradable" items often decompose into methane and carbon dioxide or microplastics. She further explained that in Israel, there is no separate waste stream for organic materials, rendering the "biodegradable" labeling meaningless in practice, as these items are not treated in specialized industrial composting facilities.