Retailers pledge to ban chemicals
Friends of the Earth campaign highlights products dangers
July 27 2002
Environmental campaigning group Friends of the Earth has persuaded a number of UK retailers to drop products which contain potentially harmful chemicals.
Boots, Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, B&Q and the Early Learning Centre have agreed to evaluate the use of chemicals in products they manufacture themselves and source from other suppliers.
Friends of the Earth has asked retailers to reduce the levels of chemicals which build up in the body and potentially affect the hormone, immune and nervous system. Some of these chemicals are found in pesticides, others are used in plastics, cosmetics and toys.
Friends of the Earth has asked retailers to produce a timetable for phasing out the use of chemicals in own-brand products, with the aim of eliminating them within five years, and to put pressure on suppliers to do the same.
The lobbying group has surveyed a range of UK retailers, creating a league table which it displays on its website. This is designed not only to draw consumers’ attention to retailers who have agreed to the chemical ban, but to name and shame those which either have not done so, or have not responded to Friends of the Earth’s requests for information.
Supporters are also encouraged to write to retailers asking for harmful chemicals to be removed from products.
Clare Oxborrow, safer chemicals campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “We are delighted that these five retailers have signed our risky chemicals pledge. We want all retailers to recognise that it is their responsibility to ensure that the products they sell are as safe as possible.”
Mike Barry, environmental systems manager at Marks & Spencer, said: “Both the current benefits and future potential of chemistry is being put at risk by the use of a small number of chemicals that may have a long-term adverse impact on the environment. We are committed to phasing out the use of any such chemicals in our product ranges.”
