Sony Ericsson phone - Sony Ericsson has recently committed to remove toxic chemicals from its entire product range. Market leaders such as Sony Ericsson show that substitution of toxics with safer alternatives is possible.
Demand for toxic-free products is clearly the people's
choice. Back in November we asked for your help to pressure
electroniccompanies to change for the better. Over 14,000 people
from across theglobe responded by writing over 32,000 messages to
the top producers ofmobile phones, computers and TVs. Sony Ericsson
listened. We hopethe other companies are listening too.
Now just onecompany phasing out toxic substances might not sound
like a big deal.But in 2004 Sony Ericsson sold 42 million phones.
Soon millions ofthese phones will be shipped without containing
chemicals hazardous tohuman health and the environment.
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Why are chemicals in products important?
Companies going toxics-free means less pollution and worker
exposureduring production, less chemicals in your home during use
and easier,cleaner recycling and disposal. Discover more companies
taking postivesteps in
our toxic free catwalk.
Our recent tests ofproducts in Italy revealed that consumer
goods aimed at children andbabies contained the highest levels of
toxic substances, out of ashopping basket of everyday articles. For
example Mattel's BarbieFashion Fever contained high levels of toxic
chemicals.
These results show that company voluntary measures are good, but
othercompanies will never change unless they are forced to by law.
Only thenwill these toxic chemicals be phased out and substituted
withsafer alternatives.
What about those laws?
Current regulation of chemicals is weak and inadequate. Almost
everyonehas dozens of man-made chemicals in their body, the effects
of thesechemical cocktails on our health are unknown. In Europe the
EU isdrafting new laws, that would set a world standard, we need to
makesure that the new law not only identifies all hazardous
chemicals, butalso requires their substitution with safer
alternatives.
While better chemical regulation should be welcomed by all, it
is underattack from predictable quarters. The chemical industry has
been scaremongering with exaggerated claims of job losses and
declining profits.It has also recruited dirty industries best
friend, the BushAdministration, to threaten Europe with a World
Trade Organisationlawsuit if it dares to try and cut toxic
pollution.
Thebest way to counter inaccurate industry lobbying is to have
othercompanies' show they can do without toxic chemicals. The list
isgrowing - Ikea, H&M, Sony Ericsson, Marks&Spencer, Sony,
Nokiaand Puma are leading the way.
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this victory for a toxic free future at our action centre.
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