AMSTERDAM, September 23, 1999 - Today Greenpeace congratulated the world's largest auto manufacturer, General Motors, on its [announcement] decision to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) plastic from its auto interiors. General Motors (GM) said moving away from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will enable improvements in durability and a reduction of interior odors. One of the problems with PVC is that it requires toxic plasticizers that can leach out during use, causing both an odor and a health risk - a problem that Greenpeace has already highlighted in toys and medical devices made of soft PVC.
General Motors is the first car company to make a public announcement of its intention to stop using vinyl in auto interiors, although other automakers have quietly been moving away from vinyl for several years. Honda recently announced its intention to create a 100% recyclable/PVC free auto by 2010, and Daimler Benz has not used PVC for interiors or undercoatings in Mercedes autos since 1995.
"The General Motors statement is significant because it may signal a 'sea change' away from obsolete PVC plastics toward safer materials in the 21st century", said Axel Singhofen, Greenpeace International Political Advisor in Brussels. "GM is the first car company to break the code of silence surrounding PVC, which is good news for the environment and bad news for the PVC industry".
Within the European Union, the use of PVC in cars has come under scrutiny because disposal of PVC poses major problems. Dioxin is created when PVC burns, such as in accidental fires, during the steel recycling process or when incinerated. Once dioxin is released into the environment, it can travel long distances, and is among the most toxic synthetic substances known. In minute quantities, dioxin can cause cancer, and reproductive, developmental and immune system health problems.
Greenpeace is calling on GM to broaden its announcement to include the elimination of all PVC in its autos. PVC is also used in car undercoatings and electrical wiring. However, a variety of proven PVC alternatives are already in use by different companies, although no company produces an entirely PVC free car.
On October 12, the EU Council of Environment Ministers will agree on a plan for what to do with autos when they reach the end of their useful life. Unfortunately, the PVC lobby worked successfully to remove any reference to PVC from this directive.
"Why are the EU Environment Ministers lagging behind the auto industry on this environmental issue", asked Singhofen. "We call on the EU Environment Ministers to use this opportunity to adopt a ban on all uses of PVC in cars as of 2004 at their October meeting", he continued.
Greenpeace will continue to scrutinise GM's policy and practices on other pressing environmental issues such as global warming.
