Japanese Firms wrapped up in dioxin protest

[John Visher <visherjc@crisscross.com>]

 http://www.asahi.com/english/enews/enews.html#enews_19800

Asahi News
November 19, 1999


Firms wrapped up in dioxin protest

Asahi Shimbun Consumers returned more than 20,000 rolls of plastic wrap
to two manufacturers Wednesday in a demonstration aimed at preventing
the production
of cancer-causing dioxin.

An association of about 90 citizens' groups, including Consumers Union
of Japan, said the transparent sheets containing a chloric compound
releases dioxin when
burned.

They returned about 21,500 cases of the wrap to Asahi Chemical Industry
Co. and Kureha Chemical Industry Co., both of which are based in Tokyo,
the
association officials said.

The two manufacturers agreed to accept the returned products but said
they have no immediate plans to suspend sales and production of the
wrap.

The products in question are Asahi Chemical's ``Sun Wrap,'' which is
known in Japan under the name ``Saran Wrap,'' and Kureha Chemical's
``New Krewrap.''

The two brands contain polyvinylidene chloride and jointly hold a
70-percent market share.

The chloric compound, which is highly heat-resistant and seals off water
and odor, can generate dioxins when burned at temperatures between 400
degrees and 600
degrees, according to the National Institute for Environmental Studies
in Tsukuba.

The association has been asking its member organizations to collect the
two products since July, said Hiroko Mizuhara, secretary-general of the
Consumers Union of
Japan.

The association was formed to tackle environmental problems caused by
dioxins and other endocrine-disturbing chemicals. It started talks with
plastic-wrap
manufacturers in June 1998, demanding companies use non-chloric
chemicals in their products, officials said.

Among the manufacturers of such film, Asahi Chemical and Kureha Chemical
had agreed to accept returned products that were distributed as
giveaways and gifts.
Following the agreements, the association sent back the products on
Wednesday.

Officials of Asahi Chemical said the dioxin problem should be solved by
improving incinerator facilities. They said the company is studying ways
to develop substitute
materials, including non-chloric chemicals.

Kureha Chemical officials said they have continued research and
development efforts but have yet to find better materials than those
currently used in Krewrap
products.

The returned products were transported to warehouses in Saitama
Prefecture.

Hideaki Miyata, professor of the pharmaceutical department at Setsunan
University, said the global trend is to reduce chloric compounds
contained in waste.

``Makers should use non-chloric materials to produce goods such as
wrapping films that will eventually be thrown away as waste,'' said
Miyata, who is well versed
in dioxin issues.