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Demand Safer Plastics in Cars
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Progressive Portal
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Mar 21, 2005 13:15 PST
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NEW REPORT GIVES NEAR-FAILING GRADES TO MAJOR CAR MAKERS
FOR USING TOXIC, NONRECYCLABLE PLASTICS
[From the Ecology Center (Ann Arbor, MI) <http://www.ecocenter.org> and
the Clean Car Campaign <http://www.cleancarcampaign.org>]
Plastics represent a growing proportion of the typical automobile. Many
of the plastics used, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are
petrochemical-based and contain toxic chemicals. These chemicals have
the potential to harm human health, either through emissions while the
car is in use or later, when discarded cars are destroyed.
There's plenty automakers could be doing to address these problems.
Safe, practical alternatives that are less toxic and easier to recycle,
including plastics manufactured from renewable raw materials, are
available today. But a new report by the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor,
MI, on the major manufacturers' efforts in this area gives the industry
near-failing grades.
Entitled "Moving Toward Sustainable Plastics: A Report Card on the Six
Leading Automakers," the report graded the six largest suppliers of
cars to the United States market - DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General
Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota - on 17 environmental topics related
to plastics. The highest grade, awarded to Toyota, was a C. Honda,
DaimlerChrysler, and Ford each received a grade of D+, while Nissan and
General Motors got straight Ds.
CONTINUED BELOW ...
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+ FLY THE ECOLOGY FLAG ON EARTH DAY (APRIL 22) AND EVERY DAY!
+ http://www.progressiveportal.org/resources/flags.html?alrt
+ plus enviro stickers, buttons, patches, and more
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The Ecology Center and a coalition called the Clean Car Campaign are
asking the manufacturers to move more rapidly toward sustainable
plastics, defined as those that don't contain toxic chemicals, are
recyclable, and are manufactured from renewable raw materials.
Specifically, the campaign is urging the companies to commit to phasing
out PVC plastics by 2009 and to endorse the following "Sustainable
Plastics Principles":
1. Commit to achieving sustainable plastics at the global level.
2. Set measurable goals and report on progress globally.
3. Transition away from incineration as a disposal option.
4. Provide relevant sustainable plastics information on the Web.
Urge the chief executive officers of the major auto companies to take
this pledge.
Take Action
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Send a message to auto-company CEOs at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/plastics
More Information
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Details from the new report on autos and plastics, and links to the full
study:
http://www.ecocenter.org/releases/20050223_autoplastics.shtml
The Clean Car Campaign:
http://www.cleancarcampaign.org
A summary of the environmental impact of automobiles:
http://www.greenercars.com/autoenviron.html
Transcript of a report on "Toxic Cars" from National Public Radio's
"Living on Earth":
http://www.loe.org/archives/010727.htm#feature6
Information on the dangers of and alternatives to PVC:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/campaigns/intro?campaign_id=3988
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