Greenpeace applauded Marks and Spencer yesterday (8th February) for announcing its intention to remove polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic from all of its products and packaging. The decision was taken in response to growing environmental concerns surrounding the manufacture and disposal of PVC.
Rowland Hill, Environmental Affairs Manager, Marks & Spencer, comments; "We have been reviewing the current and future environmental needs of our customers and have highlighted a number of issues with regard to the use of PVC. Despite the significant improvements being made by the PVC industry, we do not believe that our current concerns can be resolved satisfactorily."
Hill continues, "We are particularly aware that many of our uses of PVC have only a short intended useful life before they are sent for disposal and this is of particular concern. As a result we intend to replace all packaging applications of PVC by the end of 2002."
Marks & Spencer has made a commitment to replace all other uses of PVC as part of a managed phase out programme as suitable alternative materials are identified. The company will announce specific phase-out dates for our other uses of PVC plastic in due course.
PVC has, for many years, been linked with a wide range of environmental concerns. Most of these concerns are centred on the possible release of chemicals when items made from PVC are sent for disposal and to a lesser extent, when the PVC material is manufactured.
The possible causes of pollution and risks linked with the disposal of PVC have been discussed recently in a series of reports and a Green Paper published by the European Commission.
