David v. Goliath: Reusable bag entrepreneur faces lawsuit by plastic bag makers

ChicoBag takes on Big Plastic

David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer
San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, June 4, 2011
 
For six years, Andy Keller has waged war against the plastic shopping bag.

Now the bag is fighting back.

Keller is the founder and president of ChicoBag, a small firm in Chico making reusable shopping bags that compress into fist-sized pouches when not in use. He founded the business to give people an alternative to the ubiquitous disposable bags that often litter sidewalks, line streambeds, snag in trees and wash into the sea.

Makers of the plastic bags have taken notice.

Three of those companies have sued ChicoBag in South Carolina, accusing Keller's business of causing them "irreparable injury." The suit argues that ChicoBag's website and marketing material contain false or misleading information in a deliberate attempt to "misappropriate ... customers and potential customers."

Keller considers it an attempt to silence and smother his company.

"The plastic bag is under attack all around the world," he said. "I think the plastics industry doesn't know what to do, and they're scared, in my opinion."

The plastics companies say the suit is about truth in advertising.

(More here. See also "Goliath v. David: Plastic bag manufacturers sue small reusable bag maker".)