Go PVC-free This Back To School Season!

You’ve gotten rid of BPA from baby bottles and out of water bottles, but did you know an unnecessary toxic plastic may be hiding in your children’s school supplies? 

Your child’s innocent-looking lunch box or binder could contain chemicals linked to learning disabilities, obesity, and asthma. That’s because many school supplies are manufactured using polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the most hazardous plastic for our health and environment.

This plastic can contain a toxic stew of phthalates, lead, cadmium, and organotins—making it a recipe for disaster. As a result, some of these chemicals, like phthalates, are building up in our bodies.  To the developing body of a child, even a small exposure to these toxic chemicals can be dangerous.  A new 2011 study found PVC is the most widely used hazardous plastic in the world.  This toxic plastic is being used in more forms than ever for your kids, from lunchboxes to 3-ring binders. From its manufacture to disposal, PVC releases hazardous chemicals like dioxins and phthalates that are harmful to your children’s health.

The good news is there are safer and cost-effective alternatives.  The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has just released their fourth-annual 2011 Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.

The guide features a listing of the most common school supplies made out of PVC and safer PVC-free alternatives in over 35 product categories, from laptops and lunchboxes to backpacks and 3- ring binders.  Parents around the country will find this useful for safer, healthier alternatives to PVC for their children.

Buying a PVC-free product also means that you are exerting your consumer buying-power in the right direction, towards companies that manufacture products safer for our kids’ health.

Find Safer Products for Your Kids. Download the new Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.

Download the guide here: http://bit.ly/nopvcs
Download the wallet-sized version here: http://bit.ly/nopvcs2