Greenpeace co-founder defends PVC

14 December 2007 19:01  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore came to the defense of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on Friday by claiming recent activist attacks on the chlorinated plastic were without any basis in scientific fact.

Moore’s comments came two days after Sears Holdings Corporation, parent of the Sears and Kmart retail chain stores, said it will work to phase out use of PVC in its packaging and merchandise.

“Anti-PVC activists like the Center for Health, Environment and Justice in the US and the Environmental Defense in Canada are engaged in a fear-mongering campaign that’s attempting to convince retailers like Sears to de-select PVC without a shred of scientific evidence,” said Moore, who left Greenpeace in 1986 after 15 years with the environmental group.

The action by Sears Holdings followed similar decisions by Target Stores and Wal-Mart, but Moore said the attacks on PVC are without merit and could force the retailers to use more expensive alternatives.

“Anti-PVC activists are pushing retailers toward untested, less affordable and potentially riskier materials,” Moore said. “That’s bad news for consumers.  PVC is one of the most thoroughly tested plastics available.”

Allen Blakey, spokesman for the Vinyl Institute, a trade group, applauded Moore for having an open mind about PVC and basing his opinion on scientific data.

“It’s great to have someone with his environmental credentials standing up for PVC,” Blakey said. “A lot of activists believe that banning PVC will solve the dioxin problem, even though dioxin levels have been falling for years even as PVC production has increased.”

Moore has a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of British Columbia and is currently director of Greenspirit Strategies, an environmental consultancy based in Vancouver.

By: Greg Holt
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