In the last few months, Greenpeace has held discussions with
Samsung about its use of brominated flame retardants and
phthalates. As a result, Samsung has agreed a definite schedule
within its substance policy to phase out the use of these chemicals
and switch to cleaner alternatives. This pledge upgrades Samsung's
ranking on the Greenpeace products database from red to orange,
making Samsung the first producer to have its rating upgraded since
the start of the campaign.
"Samsung is setting a trend in the field of substitution of
hazardous chemicals in consumer products," says Bart van Opzeeland
of Greenpeace. "This should serve as an example for other companies
and provide a roadmap for a new strict European chemicals policy,
which the EU is currently developing."
Gregor Margetson, Head of European Environmental Affairs for
Samsung
Electronics Europe said: "Samsung Electronics has always taken
environmental issues seriously and our work with Greenpeace shows
we welcome constructive input on such subjects. Their initial
criticism motivated us to re-evaluate our goals and consider what
is truly possible. We choose to take the difficult option because
we have ambitions to become a more sustainable company, and we
realise that this prize comes at a price."[3]
During the production, use and waste phase of a product, these
'substances of very high concern' end up in the environment. Traces
of these man-made chemicals - which can be hazardous even in small
doses (some are notorious hormone disrupters) - have been found all
over the world, from the Alps to the North Pole. In a recent
Greenpeace report, 'The Poison Link - the story nobody wants to
hear' [4], seven scientists unite in agreeing that these kinds of
chemicals do not belong in our environment or in the bodies of
human beings and animals.
From 1 July, the Netherlands will hold the six-month presidency
of the European Union. Greenpeace therefore calls on Dutch State
Secretary Pieter Van Geel to work towards a strict EU chemicals
policy (REACH) that bans the production and use of hazardous
chemicals, and requires industry to substitute such chemicals with
safer alternatives, where these are available. Alternatives already
exist for many hazardous chemicals and applications.
As some ready-to-use alternatives have yet to be found, Samsung
has also committed to seek substitutes for the hazardous chemicals
that it currently uses, supporting innovation of new, cleaner
chemicals. "Our decision-making process is based on sound common
sense," said Gregor Margetson. "We consider all available
information, and if necessary back up suspicions with scientific
research to confirm the best course of action. In special cases,
such as that of suspected links between
chemicals and harm to health or the environment, we are prepared
to take action where the evidence is not yet scientifically
confirmed, but where it is sufficient to cause concern. Matching
moral concerns against commercial realities is never easy, but we
like to think that we try to do the right thing."
VVPR info: The Press Release has been issued by Greenpeace European Unit and is also available in French at http://eu.greenpeace.org/downloads/chem/PRonSamsungPhaseOut-Fr.pdf
Notes: [1] Download report http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/MultimediaFiles/Live/FullReport/6043.pdf [2] Greenpeace database of hazardous chemicals in products at: www.greenpeace.org.uk/Products/Toxics/chemicalhouse.cfm [3] For details of Samsung's environmental commitments and chemical control program, see www.samsung-europe.com/environment/redirectuk.htm [4] Poison Link report - in Dutch (executive summary in English) at http://www.greenpeace.nl/multimedia/download/1/458458/0/Gif_Bloedlink_Rapport.pdf