Love is.......ensuring you're not contaminated! Take action for strong European chemical laws.
We tested 36 well know brands of perfumes for two potentially
hazardous man-made chemical groups: phthalate esters and synthetic
musks. Both these types of chemicals can enter the body and may
cause unwanted health impacts. They are also harmful when released
into the environment. Virtually all the perfumes tested contained
these chemicals with high levels being found in brands like Calvin
Klein's 'Eternity for Women,' The Body Shop's 'White Musk' and Jean
Paul Gaultier's 'Le Mâle.'
Other
brands contained low levels of these harmful chemicals. Puma's
'Jamaica Man' had one of the lowest levels of the musks tested and
Gloria Vanderbilt's 'Vanderbilt' contained no detectable
phthalates. The different levels of chemicals shows there is room
for discussing the phase-out of these chemicals with perfume
manufactures.
Chemicals out of control
Perfumes are the latest consumer products tested by Greenpeace
to expose how common the use of toxic chemicals is in everyday
products. We are using the results to show how current laws on
chemicals are inadequate. A new chemical law being discussed in
Europe is vital to set a worldwide precedent on the strong
effective control of chemicals.
While better chemical control 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 Europe with a World
Trade Organisation lawsuit if it dares to try and cut toxic
pollution.
We are countering the negative industry lobbying by pressuring
companies to demonstrate that they can do without toxic chemicals
in products. The list of companies setting a good example by
substituting hazardous chemicals for safer alternatives is growing
- Ikea, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Nokia, Samsung and Puma are
leading the way. Adidas, Unilever and Sony are heading in the right
direction.
Consumer power is vital in changing these companies and you can
check our
products database to help you avoid toxic chemicals in your
shopping basket. Right now we are focusing on the electronics
sector so why not take the toxic
tech test!
Get involved:
Send a
valentines card with a difference to spread the word and get
people taking action.
You can add your
voice for strong European chemical law to counter industry
lobbying. (Also in
Ceski |
Deutsch |
Español |
Français |
Italiano |
Magar |
Nederlands |
Polski)
Check the online product database to see which companies and
brands are toxics free and who are not:
English | French | Spanish
| Dutch
|
Italian (pdf file)
Get Informed
Read the press
release for a summary of the chemicals tested and amounts found
or the
full report for the complete picture. Full
testing details from the lab report.
Backround on the
Chemical Crisis and our campaign for a
toxic free future.
Intro to the
upcoming EU chemical law (REACH).
BushGreenwatch: Administration
Steps Up Pressure on EU to Weaken Proposed Chemical Laws.
Support Us
We campaign to change company and government policy to help
protect the planet. We can only do this by not accepting donations
from governments or companies - we rely only on donations from
individuals. Help us change companies and governments for the
better by giving now
You can also sign
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our work.