TL: GREENPEACE PVC BRIEFING #4: SUNCARE - THE GREEN FACTOR
SO: GREENPEACE UK (GP)
DT: JUNE 1996                             

SUN CARE PRODUCTS - ALTERNATIVES TO PVC PACKAGING

It's important to protect your skin when you are out in the sun. By avoiding PVC
packaging, you can also help protect the environment.

PVC plastic can release harmful chemicals during its production and disposal. By
avoiding PVC you are helping to eliminate a source of toxic and hormone disrupting
chemicals.

Make sure that your suntan lotion isn't packaged in PVC plastic.

The symbol to avoid is a small triangle with a number "3" in it. This tells that
the package is PVC.

There are many products that come in alternatives to PVC plastic, so choose these
instead. If you see that your favourite brand of suntan lotion is packaged in PVC,
write to the manufacturer asking them to change to a PVC-free alternative.

The following are examples of a range of suntan lotions and oils that can be found
in PVC plastic and other similar products in non-PVC. Avoid PVC.

It's a simple switch - go PVC free!

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Suncare products which we found packaged in PVC plastic

Ambre Solaire intensive bronze oil
Banana Boat aloe vera gel
     dark tan oil
     golden tan blend
Boots Soltan easitan instant
Hawaiian Tropic dark tanning oil
     protective tanning oil
     royal tanning blend
Sainsburys Suncare after sun
     Suncare lotion
     Suncare rapid tan
Tescos Sun Essentials after sun
     Sun Essentials after sun with insect repellent
     Sun Essentials sun lotion

Suncare products which we found packaged in alternatives to PVC plastic

Ambre Solaire after sun
     high protection milk
     sun block milk
     tanning milk
Banana Boat after sun spray
     aloe after sun lotion
     dark tan lotion
Body Shop aloe gel
     cocoa butter after sun lotion
     watermelon after sun lotion
     watermelon after sun spray
     watermelon self tanning lotion
     watermelon sun block
     watermelon sun lotion
     watermelon sun spray
Boots Soltan after sun
     Soltan sun lotion
     Soltan sun oil
Coty Sunshimmer light tan
Delial sun tanning lotion
Hawaiian Tropic carrot sun gel
     cool aloe gel
     protective tanning lotion
Johnsons after sun
     baby sun protection lotion
     facial sun protection lotion
     soothing gel
     sun protection lotion
Malibu protective tanning lotion
Mr Men after sun
     sun cream
Nivea after sun
     moisturising sun lotion
     Sun childrens sun lotion
Piz Buin antimoskito sun lotion
     classic brown tanning lotion
     oil free sun lotion
     shower sun lotion
     sport sun lotion
     sun lotion
     apres sun
Sainsburys Suncare cream sun block
     Suncare oil
Sun E45 after sun
     sun lotion
Superdrug Solait high protection sun lotion
     Solait low protection sun lotion
     Solait oil
     Solait sensitive after sun lotion
     Solait sensitive fragrance-free after sun
     Solait sensitive fragrance-free sun lotion
     Solait sensitive sun lotion
Uvistat after sun
     sun lotion
No-Ad babies maximum sun protection lotion
     sun protection lotion
     sun tanning lotion
     ultra sun protection lotion

(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.