Greenpeace Says Vinyl Industry Agrees PVCs Harmful
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 - The following was issued by Greenpeace in response to a statement issued December 9, 1999, by Timothy S. Burns, Executive Director, The Vinyl Institute:
The vinyl industry suggests that there are great differences in scientific viewpoints about the safety of vinyl (PVC) toys. Actually, Greenpeace, industry, government and academic scientists agree that vinyl plastic uses chemical additives, known as phthalates, to make it pliable, and that these chemicals are released into saliva. All four groups agree that phthalates cause cancer and organ damage in animal studies.
The policy on vinyl toys that comes from these agreed-upon facts can take two paths: 1) continue sale and exposure until life-threatening health effects are shown to be caused by vinyl toys; and 2) prevent human exposure to chemicals shown to be harmful in animal studies.
The first action protects sales; the second action protects public health.
Greenpeace believes that a civil society should exercise precaution especially in matters concerning children who are at their most sensitive points of development. Despite clear warnings from animal studies, the vinyl industry believes that sales of vinyl toys should continue until life- threatening damage to children from vinyl toys is a certainty. This is because the industry only believes animal studies are relevant to humans if they exonerate its products. That's pure public relations, not science.
The lack of confidence the vinyl industry has in its own plastics can be clearly seen in its repeated rejection of calls to label toys as being made of vinyl. The industry understands that no parent would knowingly buy a toy that contains additives that cause cancer and damage the liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs of animals.
Increasing numbers of companies understand vinyl's disadvantages and are moving to phase it out of their products. After a year of discussions with Mattel, Greenpeace realized the company was dead serious about its desire to move toward environmentally friendly materials. The vinyl industry characterized Mattel's decision to substitute plant-based plastics for vinyl as "a business decision that companies make every day." Greenpeace hopes this is true.
The vinyl industry understands that "every company wants the best- performing material that is also safe and environmentally acceptable." Greenpeace and a growing number of companies realize that new materials offer superior performance without vinyl's environmental liabilities.
Industry leaders that intend to implement alternatives to vinyl include: Mattel, General Motors, Nike, Baxter Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Universal Health Services, Tenet Healthcare, LEGO, IKEA, The Body Shop, and Honda.
CONTACT: Rick Hind, Legislative Director, Grenpeace Toxics Campaign, 202-319-2445; Joe DiGangi, Greenpeace Toxics Campaign, 312-554-1224; or visit the Greenpeace Web site -- www.greenpeaceusa.org.