04/10/2005 — More big brands
have committed to remove toxic chemicals from
their products in our campaign against toxic
pollution. Electronics giant Motorola and
health and body care companies L'Occitane,
Melvitacosm and Alqvimia are the latest companies
to drop the most toxic chemicals from their
products.
Motorola featured in our previous toxic tech
test action and received thousands of emails
from concerned citizens requesting it removes
toxic chemicals from its products. Melvitacosm
produces the Melvita's Iris Blue perfume that
was shown to have high levels of a toxic chemical
in our valentine day perfume tests. These
companies join Samsung, Nokia, Adidas, Reebok,
H&M, Chicco toys and others in adopting
a precautionary approach to end the use of
chemicals of concern in their products. Discover
the companies taking positive steps in our
toxic free catwalk.
Why are chemicals in products important?
Many chemicals found in everyday products
are now common environmental pollutants and
are found in animals and humans. Almost everyone
has dozens of man-made chemicals in their
body; the effects of these chemical cocktails
on our health are unknown.
While these voluntary company measures are
good news, other companies will never change
unless the law forces them to. Only then will
these toxic chemicals be fully phased out
and substituted with safer alternatives.
What about those laws?
Current regulation of chemicals is weak and
inadequate. Toxic chemicals are found from
the Arctic to the Alps. The European Union
(EU) is drafting new chemical law that would
set a world standard, but to be effective
the new law must identify all hazardous chemicals
and require their substitution with safer
alternatives.
While better chemical regulation should be
welcomed by all, it is under attack from predictable
quarters. The chemical industry has been scare-mongering
with exaggerated claims of job losses and
declining profits. It has also recruited dirty
industry's best friend, the Bush Administration,
to threaten the EU with a World Trade Organisation
lawsuit if it dares to try and cut toxic pollution.
The best way to counter inaccurate industry
lobbying is to have other companies demonstrate
that they can do without toxic chemicals.
It remains to be seen if European members
of parliament will side with the people and
progressive companies by voting for strong
chemical law. Or will they prefer the lobbying
and scare-mongering of dirty industry?
