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Multiple district attorney’s offices in Northern California resolved a misleading advertising case with a company that wrongly marketed its materials as plastic-free, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
The case of the People v. Venus Laboratories ended in a civil penalty for the company, which does business as “Earth Friendly Products” and the brand name “ECOS.”
ECOS manufactures, markets, and sells cleaning products to California consumers, including through retail stores and online platforms. ECOS also advertises its products through its website, www.ecos.com.
As part of the settlement, the company will pay $176,110 in civil penalties and costs to resolve the alleged violations.
Prosecutors alleged that ECOS marketed and sold laundry and dishwasher detergent sheets that were labeled “zero plastic” but actually contained polyvinyl alcohol, which is a form of plastic.
“ECOS further represented that these products were biodegradable when prosecutors allege that they are not likely to break down during wastewater treatment processes in sewer or septic systems before entering the ocean or other waterways,” the Monterey DA’s Office said.
District attorney’s offices involved in the case also included those from Alameda, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma counties, as well as Fresno, Orange, Riverside, and Sacramento counties.
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