Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Products Falsely Advertised as Sustainably Sourced, Class Action Says

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The company behind the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) faces a proposed class action that claims certain products sold by the California-based coffee shop chain are falsely advertised as sustainably sourced.

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The 15-page lawsuit says that in an effort to capitalize on consumers’ preference for environmentally friendly products, defendant International Coffee & Tea, LLC has misrepresented that CBTL’s French Vanilla and Organic Espresso single-serve coffee pods and ground coffee come from “family-owned farm[s]” that use “[e]arth-friendly growing practices.” In reality, CBTL’s coffee suppliers are not all family-owned farms, and its products are grown and manufactured in a manner known to be harmful to the environment, the case alleges.

The complaint claims that the defendant’s alleged misrepresentations are not limited to the above-mentioned CBTL products and are widely disseminated across its packaging, website and other marketing materials.

For example, the coffee shop advertises that it is “proud of its commitment to quality and sustainability,” has “always cared deeply about conservation” and has “implemented many practices to reduce waste and contribute to a healthier, happier world,” the suit relays. What’s more, CBTL represents that it supports its growers’ “social responsibility standards,” including “the conscientious way they treat their workers and families,” the filing says.

“In actuality, the products, growers, and goods are causing severe harm to the planet, the environment and ecosystems, and to [the defendant’s] neighbors and communities,” the lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiff, a San Diego resident, says she and other consumers would not have bought the CBTL coffee at issue, or would have paid less for it, had they known the company effectively “greenwashed” the products by deceptively claiming that its supply process does not adversely impact the environment.

The lawsuit looks to represent any California residents who purchased any of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf products named above in the state since August 29, 2019.

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