Back to school to many is the time of year for a fresh start. Unfortunately many children’s school supplies, such as lunch boxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC—an unnecessary toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment across its life cycle: from production, to use, to disposal. Cancer causing chemicals that contaminate the air and water of surrounding communities are used to produce PVC. When PVC is manufactured or burned, numerous dioxins are formed and released. Dioxins are a highly toxic group of chemicals that can cause cancer, and harm the immune and reproductive systems. These and other toxic chemicals released during the PVC life cycle contaminate our bodies and may pose irreversible life-long health threats. Why Shop for PVC - Free School Supplies? PVC is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child’s health. What’s worse is the danger these chemicals pose- phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time posing unnecessary dangers to children. Over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften or plasticize PVC products. Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That’s why it’s important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.
Thankfully, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has created this Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies to empower you to make smarter, healthier shopping choices for a toxic-free future and a fresh back to school start.
Backpacks
- Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and may contain lead.
- Look for PVC-free materials in rainwear (i.e. rain boots and raincoats), prints on clothing, and accessories such as handbags, jewelry and belts.
- In purchasing accessories like purses and jewelry, look for fabrics and other materials rather than plastics. Choices include jacquards, velvets, crinkled crepes, satins, wood, metals, pearls, rhinestones, etc.
- Avoid electronics manufacturers who have not committed to phasing out PVC and other toxic chemicals in their production. For a list of companies that are going PVC-free, consult the latest edition of Greenpeace’s Greener Electronics Guide that can be found that can be found at http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/toxics/hi-tech-highly-toxic
- Buy electronics from companies who have pledged to responsibly “take it back” at the end of its useful life.
- Use PVC-free butcher paper, waxed paper, parchment paper, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or cellulose bags.
- Use cloth lunch bags or metal lunchboxes. Many lunch boxes are made of PVC, or coated with PVC on the inside.
- Avoid notebooks containing metal spirals encased in colored plastic. The colored plastic coating on the metal spirals usually contains PVC. Select notebooks with uncovered metal spirals to avoid PVC.
- Choose organizers/ address books made with sustainably harvested wood, metal, or paper covers. Avoid those made of plastic – these sometimes contain PVC.
- Avoid single-use disposable packaging whenever possible.
- Avoid the three-arrow "recycling" symbol with the number 3 and/or the initials PVC; indicating it’s made with PVC. If no symbol is present, call the manufacturer's question/comment line (usually a toll-free 800 number) listed on the package to find out what it’s made of.
- Avoid products packaged in unlabeled plastics, such as clamshells and blister packs, which may contain PVC.
- Choose products with packaging made from more easily recycled materials like paper (look for those with higher post-consumer recycled content), paperboard, and glass.
- Stick to the plain metal paperclips. Colored paper clips are coated with PVC. Three-Ring Binders Use cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC
- Avoid shiny and colorful plastic umbrellas as these are typically made out of PVC. Look for those made out of other materials such as nylon.
- Use stainless steel utensils. If you require disposable dinnerware, look for bio-based (made with PLA or PHA plastics) cutlery and plates.
- Use glass or stainless steel drinking containers. If you require plastic, avoid PVC, polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC) plastics.
- Never microwave with plastics. Use glass, stoneware, or ceramic dishware and containers instead. Heating plastic increases the chances of chemical additives such as bisphenol A, phthalates or other additives leaching into food and beverages.
We hope you find these tips useful as you go shopping for school supplies. For a handy “wallet-size” version of this Back-to-School guide to PVC-free School Supplies, visit: http://www.chej.org/publications/PVCGuid/PVCwallet.pdf
Local Green Circle, August, 2009