Nike to Stop Using PVC

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

1)  NIKE JUST DOES IT!!!

Nike to Stop Using PVC in Shoes

By David S. Hilzenrath

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 26, 1998; Page C12

Nike, the world's largest manufacturer of athletic shoes, said it will
purge its products of the widely used plastic substance polyvinyl
chloride, which it called "a threat to humans and the environment."

Nike's plan, publicized yesterday by the environmental group
Greenpeace, was a symbolic milestone in an international campaign to
reduce the use of PVC in products as varied as toys and medical
supplies.

For now, Nike's gesture is more symbolic than substantive, though.
Nike said it has "barely just begun" to look for materials to
substitute for PVC and will make the change "as supplier capacity and
viable replacements allow." The company would not predict when
products would start rolling off its assembly lines free of PVC.

The manufacture and disposal of PVC can release toxins known as
dioxins, which are linked to birth defects, cancer, decreased
fertility and other medical problems, Nike said.

"We are a sports company, and we must help protect the environment
that athletes need to participate in their sports," Nike said in a
statement prepared for use by Greenpeace.

In the statement, Nike made a point of denying that it was trying to
divert attention from criticism of its labor practices in low-wage
countries. But, in an interview, a company spokeswoman said the
elimination of PVC was a workplace-safety issue for factory employees.

The Vinyl Institute, which represents PVC producers, said the impact
of Nike's action on the industry might be insignificant. But Mark
Sofman, manager of industry affairs, took exception to Nike's
comments.

"Vinyl's been in common use for nearly 70 years. It's used safely
every day in thousands of products from food packaging to . . . PVC
pipe for potable water systems," as well as the bags used to store
blood, Sofman said.

Nike spokeswoman Dawn Leonetti said the company doesn't know how much
PVC it uses. The material is used in various parts of shoes, in the
logos that appear on Nike garments, and as a laminate in duffel bags,
among other things.

Greenpeace official Charlie Cray said lead and other hazardous
additives often used with PVC can leach out, posing another threat to
consumers.

Other companies such as the furniture retailer Ikea and the toy
manufacturer Lego have taken steps to reduce PVC use, Greenpeace said.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has tested toys singled
out by Greenpeace and found that they did not pose a hazard to
children, said Ron Medford, assistant executive director for hazard
identification and reduction. But the agency asked manufacturers to
remove lead from PVC mini-blinds after finding that the plastic was
breaking down under exposure to sunlight, releasing dust that children
could ingest.

c Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company