Misleading advertising has come knocking on the door of WaterWipes buyers. According to reports, the multinational uses microplastics in its products, despite advertising that its wipes are biodegradable. A class-action lawsuit has been launched calling for responsible consumption and justice, as consumers claim the company falsely advertises its baby wipes as plastic-free when they contain microplastics.
Microplastics at levels 387 times higher than expected
Despite this news coming to light, the production of wipes, even those considered biodegradable, requires resources like water for their creation, and the transportation of these products generates emissions that also pollute the planet. Independent tests conducted on WaterWipes have revealed the presence of microplastics at levels 387 times higher than expected. The lawsuit claims that with this discovery, the wipe company has deceived consumers who, concerned about global pollution, opted for this product because of its supposedly biodegradable source.
These microplastics are linked to health problems
The reality is that microplastics measuring less than five millimeters in length have been found in several human organs. These microplastics are linked to health problems, according to the lawsuit. Plaintiff Devery Merlo filed the class action complaint against WaterWipes on June 2 in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
For her part, Merlo claims she purchased WaterWipes wipes in 2024, believing they were plastic-free and clean. She claims she paid a premium for the product based on these claims and would not have purchased them had she known they contained microplastics.
Huggies: because of the asterisk and accompanying note, the current labeling is not deceptive
There was a similar case involving Huggies. It was a class action lawsuit alleging that Kimberly Clark deceptively advertised that the products were made with natural ingredients. The appeals court divided the class actions into two categories, based on variations in the wipes’ packaging. The current Huggies packaging describes the wipes as “plant-derived,” but includes an asterisk (*) next to those words. Beneath the asterisk is a note informing consumers that the wipes contain approximately 70% plant-based ingredients by weight. This asterisk proved key in resolving the lawsuit. The court agreed with the federal district judge in Riverside, California, that, because of the asterisk and accompanying note, the current labeling is not deceptive. The court affirmed the dismissal of the class actions.
In this case, although WaterWipes offer a more eco-friendly option than other wet wipes, it’s important to keep in mind that any single-use, disposable product most likely contains contaminants, both for humans and for the planet.
