TL: GREENPEACE PVC BRIEFING #3: CLEAN, GREEN BABIES
SO: GREENPEACE UK (GP)
DT: JUNE 1996

BABY CARE PRODUCTS - ALTERNATIVES TO PVC PACKAGING

There is a wide range of toiletries produced specifically for use for   babies and
young children. Many of these products are packaged in PVC,   but many identical
products are not.

Choose PVC-free packaging.

There is a body of evidence to suggest that hormone disrupting chemicals   are now
widely distributed in the environment and that we take them in   in the food we
eat. The nervous and reproductive systems of developing   or newly born babies may
be particularly vulnerable to these chemicals.   By choosing alternatives to PVC,
you can help eliminate a major source   of two types of hormone disrupting
chemicals: dioxins and phthalates.

If you see that your favourite brand is in PVC, then write to the   manufacturer
and demand that they change to a PVC-free alternative.

The following are examples of a range of babycare products that can be   found in
PVC and other similar products in non-PVC.

It's a simple switch - Go PVC-free!

------------------------------------

Baby products which we found packaged in PVC plastic

Boots pure & natural baby bath
     pure & natural gentle baby shampoo
     pure & natural soap free baby wash
     pure & natural softening baby lotion
     pure & natural soothing baby oil
Co-op baby wipes
Johnsons baby oil
     baby shampoo
     no more tears baby
     shampoo
Unichem baby cream
     baby foam bath
     baby oil
     baby shampoo

Baby products which we found packaged in alternatives to PVC plastic

Boots baby bath
     baby lotion
     baby powder
     2 pack teether
     dolphin cooling teether
     Savlon bath
     Savlon lotion
Baby Savlon surface spray
     baby lotion wipes
     baby shampoo
     baby wipes hypo-allergenic dual action 
     baby body moist         
     hypo-allergenic ph balanced fragrance-free baby lotion         
     hypo-allergenic soothing baby aftersun lotion
     hypo-allergenic spf25baby sun protection lotion
     hypo-allergenic baby body moisturising lotion
     hypo-allergenic extra absorbent baby powder
     hypo-allergenic no tears 2 in 1 baby shampoo & conditioner         
     hypo-allergenic no tears baby conditioner
     hypo-allergenic no tears baby shampoo
     hypo-allergenic ph balanced baby bath
     hypo-allergenic ph balanced baby lotion
     newborn hypo-allergenic no tears bath & shampoo
     newborn hypo-allergenic baby lotion
     pure & natural absorbent baby powder
     extra thick baby wipes
     extra thick fragrance-free baby wipes
     hypo-allergenic medicated nappy cream
     white petroleum jelly
     zinc & castor oil cream
Co-op baby powder
     baby shampoo
     baby bath
     baby lotion
     baby oil
Jeyes baby wet ones
Johnsons baby skincare cloth wipes
     baby top and tail thick wipes
     baby bath
     baby lotion
     baby moisturising lotion
     baby powder
     no more tears baby bath
     no more tears baby bath with baby oil
Kind & Gentle baby wipes
Milton sterilising fluid
Pampers baby wipes
     baby wipes - refill pack
     baby wipes - travel pack
Sainsburys baby care shampoo
Sudocrem cream
Superdrug extra thick cloth baby wipes
     nappy cream
     white petroleum jelly
     baby bath
     baby lotion
     baby oil
     baby shampoo
     baby talc
     fragrance free baby lotion
Tescos baby sponge
     baby bath
     baby wipes
Tommee Tippee catch all bib
     Tippee travel beaker (6months)

(We have taken every care to ensure that, at the time of going to press, the
information contained in this briefing was accurate. Changes may, however, have
taken place since this date.)

As far as we know, the PVC packaging of the products mentioned in this information
sheet is rigid PVC which does not have phthalates added as a softener. Many other
PVC products, however, do contain phthalates and it is their production, use and
disposal which releases phthalates into the environment. The production of both
rigid and soft PVC creates dioxins, as does its incineration.