Re: GM Says NO to PVC in Cars

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

We know we've scored a victory when we hear from the chlorine industry for
the first time in a year on dioxin-list!.  But your points are valid.  I
don't think the list saw Rick Hind's follow-up post, below, that addresses
them.  Expect the issue isn't price & performance or ideology, unless you
agree to interanlize what your industry makes society pay for.  But GM &
other car part companies are making it obvious that even price &
performance alone don't guarantee the poison plastic a market share here.
And as Marco K. said.
---

>Congratulate GM if you like, but be sure you read the article carefully
>enough to find that:
>
>1) We're talking about instrument panels and door panels, not even the whole
>interior.
>2) Wire harnesses and sealants and body side moldings aren't even mentioned.
>3) The issue is product price and performance in a specific application,
>exactly as it should be--not material choice based on ideology.
>
>Bill Carroll
---


From: "Rick Hind"       Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 16:04:14 -0500

Subject: GM PRAISED ON PVC-FREE POLICY

GM Sets Pace for PVC-free Autos
Greenpeace Calls on Industry Worldwide to Follow GM Lead

Washington, D.C. September 22, 1999 - Greenpeace congratulated GM today on
its announcement to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl plastic
from its auto interiors. The international environmental action
organization then called upon the rest of the industry to follow the GM
lead.

"GM's decision on PVC is a giant step in the right direction," said Rick
Hind of Greenpeace USA in a letter to GM CEO John F. Smith. "Now all auto
manufacturers should take the initiative to protect people and the
environment from deadly dioxin contamination," he added.

When PVC burns either in accidental car fires or during the car recycling
process, dioxin can be released into the atmosphere and travel long
distances, depositing on land and in water.   Dioxin is among the most
toxic synthetic substances known.  In minute quantities, it can cause
cancer, reproductive, developmental and immune system health problems.

PVC is used in car undercoatings as well as in electrical wiring.
Greenpeace called on GM to broaden its announcement to include the
elimination of all sources of PVC in autos.

In the past year, the auto industry has begun to turn its back on PVC.
Honda recently announced its intention to create a 100% recyclable auto by
2010, without PVC.  Earlier this year, two of the world's largest
automotive interiors suppliers, Lear and Delphi,  announced plans to move
away from PVC for instrument panel covers.

And the recent mergers of US auto companies with European ones may also be
adding to the retreat from PVC.  Daimler Benz, which recently merged with
Chrysler, hasn't used PVC for interiors or undercoatings in Mercedes autos
since 1995.  The Swedish company Volvo,  which merged with Ford this year,
recently told Greenpeace it was reassessing its use of PVC.

"GM's decision may represent a 'sea change' away from obsolete PVC plastics
toward safer materials of the 21st century in all products, " said Hind.

The use of safer non-PVC plastics in auto interiors will also help address
outstanding health questions regarding the many toxic additives used in
soft PVC plastics.  Phthalates have been found to leach from a wide variety
of PVC products including childrens' toys and medical  products.

Given the high temperature reached in car interiors exposed to sunlight, it
is very likely that phthalates would be released into the air and breathed
by auto occupants of all ages.

Greenpeace's recognition of GM's new policy on PVC does not exempt GM from
scrutiny of its policies and practices on other pressing environmental
issues such as global warming.

Contacts:  Rick Hind, Greenpeace USA Toxics Campaign 1 202 319 2445
and Daniela Schimmel, Greenpeace Press Desk, 1 202 319 2429.


LETTER TO GM:

September 22, 1999

Mr. John F. Smith, Jr., CEO
General Motors Corporation
100 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243

Dear Mr. Smith,

As you may know, for several years Greenpeace has been bringing attention
to the many health, environmental and performance problems associated with
PVC plastics.  Although we do not give endorsements of companies, we do
occasionally praise important changes in policy and practices.  We were
pleasantly surprised to hear of General Motors' decision to eliminate the
use of PVC in your automobile interiors by 2004. This is a giant step for
GM and the US auto industry in general.  We will  urge other auto makers to
follow your lead.

However, we are also very interested to know if GM plans to address PVC
plastics used in auto exteriors, such as under-coatings, electrical wiring
harnesses and insulation?  As you may know, other companies (Mercedes,
Nissan & Honda) have found alternatives to these uses.  In addition, the US
Navy and other large users of electric cabling use non-halogenated wire
coating as a superior lower-smoke material.

Given the large volume of automobiles recycled in the US and globally, the
complete elimination of PVC from automobiles will make recycling even more
cost efficient and less problematic for the environment.  Any combustion of
PVC in metal recovery, waste incineration or accidental fires produces
significant amounts of dioxin.  Dioxin is also generated during the
manufacturing of PVC.  A decision by GM to eliminate ALL uses  of PVC
plastics would go a long way toward the elimination of dioxin emissions
associated with the life cycle of PVC's production and disposal, including
accidental vehicle fires (estimated by the EPA to number approximately
400,000 a year).

Your decision to use safer non-PVC plastics in auto interiors will also
help  address outstanding health questions regarding the many toxic
additives used in soft PVC plastics.  Phthalates and heavy metals such as
lead, cadmium and chromium have been found to leach from a wide variety of
PVC products including childrens' toys and medical products.  Because of
the high temperature reached in car interiors exposed to sunlight, it is
very  likely that phthalates would be released into the air of car
interiors.

Again, we congratulate you on your decision regarding PVC and look forward
to hearing more about the other uses of PVC in your cars, particularly
exterior applications.  However, our recognition of your new  policy on PVC
does not exempt you from our scrutiny of your company's position and
practices on other pressing environmental issues such as global warming.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
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