Choosing Safer Products: Clothing and Apparel

Jackets & Outerwear

Clothing made without PVC, or Gore-Tex and other Teflon chemicals.  

Examples include:

• REI Cascade Rain Jacket
• Lands End Kids' Rain Slicker
  
• i-play Rainwear (available at Toys 'R' Us)
  

Clothing made with vinyl/PVC,
or treated with Gore-Tex or other Teflon chemicals.

Outerwear treated with insecticide (such as Buzz Off^TM).

Shoes

Rain boots made of rubber. Examples include Western Chief, LL Bean, and Kids' Uda Frog Rain Boot.

If possible, choose athletic shoes from these companies that have stopped using vinyl/PVC: Adidas, Asics, Brooks, Nike, & Puma.

Rain boots made of vinyl/PVC.

Jelly shoes (jellies), which can contain vinyl/PVC.

Shoes that contain artificial leather, which can be made of vinyl/PVC.

Bags & Backpacks

Bags made of PVC-free materials such as cotton, nylon, and polyester.

If possible, choose PVC-free products that are not treated with Gore-Tex or other  Teflon chemicals.

Examples include:

• JanSport's polyester everyday backpacks
  
• Samsonite Sammies
• Stephen Joseph

Bags made of or coated with  vinyl/PVC, which can be transparent or have a very ‘plastic’ appearance.

Bibs

All-cotton bibs or bibs labeled as vinyl-free or PVC-free (polyurethane is ok). Examples include Baby Chaleco and i play.

Bibs with plastic coatings that are NOT labeled as vinyl-free or PVC-free (polyurethane is ok).

Diaper covers

Diaper covers made of wool, cotton, hemp, polyester, or nylon. Available from outlets including Cotton Tail Baby, Babyworks, and Target.

Diaper covers made of vinyl/PVC.