Consumer Products
Greenpeace investigations have reported on the content of
undesirablechemicals in a wide range of consumer products,
including textiles,electronic products, toys and cleaners:
Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products (September 2003)
The
Determination of Selective Additives in Consumer Products
(December 2003)
The
Chemical Shopping Basket, a selection of consumer products in
Italy (April 2005)
Greenpeace has also reviewed efforts by major household brands
andconsumer goods manufacturers (Nike, Sony, Persil and others)
toeliminate hazardous chemicals in their products. While some
companiesare making innovative changes to phase out and substitute
hazardouschemicals, the lack of response of other companies to
environmental andhealth concerns reinforces the need for
legislation.
See national Chemical Home websites
UK ,
France, Netherlands, Spain,
Italy
Perfumes
In February 2005, a Greenpeace report revealed the use of
hazardouschemicals in perfumes and provoked great concern within
the cosmeticsindustry and the wider public. Download the '
Eau de toxines' report The report is based on a study
commissioned by Greenpeace from independent Dutch laboratory TNO:
Phthalates and artificial musks in perfumes.
Disney Childrens wear
Greenpeace tested Disney children's clothes for hazardous
chemicals, with
shocking results. Disney has ignored calls to change its
manufacturing guidelines.
Rainwater
Chemicals in rainwater (Netherlands) May 2003
House Dust
Hazardous chemicals in house dust (UK) May 2003
Blood
A present for life (Sept 2005)- Hazardous chemicals that are
used in everyday household products end upin the bodies of unborn
children via the mother.This study, conducted for Greenpeace and
WWF UK by TNO, analysed bloodsamples donated by a number of women
and confirmed that hazardouschemicals are unwittingly passed from
mother to child.
Chemical footprints in blood (November 2004)
The report is based on a
study commissioned by Greenpeace fromindependent Dutch
laboratory TNO.
Wildlife:
Swimming in Chemicals (November 2005) - Widespread presence of
brominated flame retardants and PCBs in European eels.
European eels from across Europe were found to contain varying
levelsof brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and/or polychlorinated
biphenyls(PCBs). The results provide a snapshot of hazardous
chemicals in eelsand indicate the degree to which their habitat has
been contaminated.
General:
Reebok, Sony Ericsson, Ikea and H&M join a Greenpeace
catwalk showin Brussels to demonstrate toxic-free products:
Substitute with Style,April 2005
A report detailing the impact of hazardous chemicals on
children.
Chemical Legacy: Contamination of the Child, October 2003
Recommendations for policy-makers.
Safer Chemicals Within REACH - Usingthe substitution principle
to drive green chemistry, February 2005.