Walmart bans toxic flame retardants in its products
Recently, Wal-Mart announced to its suppliers a ban on toxic flame retardants called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and that it will begin testing products to ensure that they don't contain PBDEs starting in June 2011. The December 2010 announcement names seven states which have passed laws restricting the sale of consumer products containing these chemicals. Many other states are considering following suit.
Customers bring flame retardants home by buying furniture and electronics. These chemicals don’t stay inside our TVs, though. They escape into house dust and end up on our dinner plates. Studies have shown PBDEs in fish, meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and infant formula. Research on animals shows PBDEs can cause thyroid problems, learning deficits, memory loss and possibly birth defects. (Read more about PBDEs)
Walmart's move towards PBDE free products could go a long way towards consumer protection. It's likely that some manufacturers that supply Walmart and Sam's Club will sell the PBDE-free products to all of the retail stores that they supply rather than making different versions of the product for different stores.
"Walmart will change the market faster than any goverment can change the market," says Joel Tickner, Associate Professor of Community Health & Sustainability at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
But he also cautions that when a manufacturer or retailer stops using a toxic chemical without talking about what will be used instead, there is often no guarantee that the new chemical or process will be safer.
Tickner emphasizes that there is a "key role for government to play support the transition to safer alternatives."
So kudos to Walmart, but let's keep pushing for government regulation so that we can be certain that transitions like this will result in the safer products that we all want and deserve.
If you want to read more, we recommed the Washington Post article about this announcement.
