PVC TOYS: MATTEL ANNOUNCES ADDITIVES PHASE-OUT TO DEFLECT EMERGENCY BAN

25 September 1998

Amsterdam -- Mattel, the world-largest toy company, announced this week that, as of 1999, it will commit to the elimination of the hazardous additives phthalates (used in soft PVC toys) in the teething toys designed for children under 3 years. The announcement follows a global campaign started by the environmental group Greenpeace one year ago, who warned then that these hazardous additives can leak out of these toys and called for a European-wide ban.

Greenpeace warned that voluntary measures on a very limited product category by one company alone are not enough to address the problem. Unless a full ban is adopted, many companies will be able to continue producing and selling soft PVC toys.

"We welcome this initiative, but warn that EU politicians should not be taken in by this attempt to avoid a ban. Children are still being exposed to the hazards of soft PVC toys other than teething toys, which will still be on the shelves in many EU countries", said Madeleine Cobbing of Greenpeace. "Mattel has taken a small step towards solving the health hazards of soft PVC toys. If they are really serious about tackling the source of the problem, they should follow the line taken by other toys producers, such as Lego, and adopt a PVC-free toys policy".

According to Greenpeace, the move by Mattel can be seen as a response to the growing number of national bans in Europe (Austria, Denmark, Sweden) and as an attempt to deflect the possibility that an EU- wide emergency ban on phthalates in soft PVC baby toys could be now revived, following the failure of a Dutch study released earlier this week.

The Dutch study failed to establish a standard test to measure the release of phthalates, while it had been hoped that it would provide the basis for a EU-wide regulation on soft PVC toys.

Greenpeace has renewed its call for an emergency ban on all soft PVC toys, and has also warned that by phasing-out phthalates alone, rather than PVC in general, the toys manufacturers could simply replace phthalates with other additives, which could also be toxic, as it happened already in the US in 1986 (1).

In response to Mattel's invitation to partner with environmental groups to address this issue, Cobbing declared: "Greenpeace is prepared to enter in a dialogue with any company who is interested in developing a long-term plan to eliminate the hazardous plastic vinyl from its products."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Madeleine Cobbing, Greenpeace International, mobile +31 6 53 66 29 70 (in the Netherlands)
- Lisa Finaldi, Greenpeace International, t. +1 919 828 52 02 (in the US)