Jan 6 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) filed a lawsuit on

Monday against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several

environmental groups, court records show, accusing them of

defaming and disparaging the oil giant's advanced plastics

recycling initiatives.

The lawsuit is a sign of how Exxon is increasingly fighting back

against environmentalists and other critics, who have long

brought lawsuits against the company alleging its involvement in

climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Filed in federal court in Beaumont, Texas, the lawsuit accused

Bonta and the activists of disparaging Exxon's advanced

recycling technology. Exxon accused Bonta of acting in concert

with Australian business rivals of the oil giant.

Exxon's advanced recycling technology uses heat to break down

plastics that are difficult to recycle to a molecular level, so

they can be reused.

Exxon separately sued activist investors last year after they

filed a shareholder proposal on climate change. The company

continued to pursue the lawsuit even after the activist

investors withdrew the proposal, which raised alarm from climate

advocates that the legal action would muzzle debate between

shareholders and public companies. A U.S. judge threw out

Exxon's lawsuit in June.

The attorney general's office did not immediately respond to

a request for comment.

"Instead of coming alongside efforts to support a developing

technology ... Defendants are repeatedly and publicly attacking

ExxonMobil ( XOM ) with false accusations of being a 'liar' and

declarations that advanced recycling is a 'myth' and a 'sham,'"

Exxon said in the complaint.

In November, Exxon said it was moving forward with a plan to

spend $200 million in Texas to expand its advanced recycling

capabilities.