EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VOTES FOR SUBSTITUTION OF PVC PLASTIC

3 April 2001

Greenpeace welcomed today's vote by the European Parliament in favour of the substitution of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) plastic because of concern over its hazardous properties.

"The European Parliament has recognised the dangers associated with PVC production, use and disposal and voted in the interests of the environment and public health. This is an important step towards effective action against the many hazards of PVC plastic and the use of safer materials. Evidence that PVC harms the environment and human health is overwhelming and, as today's vote reflects, there is now only one way forward: PVC has got to go," said Greenpeace campaigner, Maureen Penjueli.

The European Parliament voted in favour of introducing a substitution policy, starting with the replacing of soft PVC, used to make children's toys and medical devices, amongst other products. Soft PVC contains phthalates, which are toxic and can leach from the product. Phthalates have been linked to damage to the kidneys, liver and testicles in animal experiments.

The vote also called for the banning of lead additives in PVC, and for compulsory marking of PVC products and separate collection of PVC waste. Moreover, the Parliament accepted that incineration and landfill are unsustainable options for the disposal of PVC and voted for hard PVC waste to be diverted from incineration. Combustion of PVC leads to hazardous emissions in the atmosphere, such as dioxin, and produces toxic ash that has to be landfilled.

Since the EU Commission's Green Paper on PVC was released last year, criticism of PVC has been voiced at every step, including the Public Consultation hearing, and the vote of the EU Parliament Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. This confirms what environmentalists, health groups and consumer groups have been saying for several years - that PVC has got to go.

"Concern over the hazards of PVC plastic is widespread. Local communities, health groups, consumer groups and industry have all been calling on the EU to phase out this dangerous plastic, " said Penjueli. "It's heartening that finally their concerns have been validated and their voices heard. Now vital that the European Commission proposes a Directive to act on today's decisions," she added.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Maureen Penjueli, Greenpeace toxics campaigner +44 207 865 8246 or + 33 388 76 3211
Lorenzo Consoli, Greenpeace European Unit Media Officer, +32 496 12 21 12
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International Media Officer + 31 6 535 04701