Why Go PVC-Free And How To Do It

It's back-to-school time and I'm shopping for a backpack from my kindergartener.  Though he is dying to have a Ben 10 backpack, I've ruled it out because of the PVC.

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, first gained popularity as a building material - in its hard form it is a cheaper alternative to wood, concrete and clay.  About 50% of the PVC produced in the world is used in construction.

But it can be made quite flexible with the addition of plasticizers, the most widely used being phthalates. In this form, it is used in clothing and upholstery.  Ever smelled that new shower curtain smell?  Smell that same smell on your child's Spider Man backpack, lunch bag or shiny rain coat? Ever seen bottles with #3 printed inside the recycling symbol? PVC.

What is so bad about PVC?  It's toxic.  Pollution created by its production is spread into the air, land and water.   The additives mixed with PVC resins (such as the aforementioned phthalates, as well as stabilizers) can leach out of a PVC product during its useful life posing health hazards, including the development of reproductive problems in children. At the end of PVC's useful life, it then leaches toxins into landfills.   So, it's a problem from the moment it's created until, well, no one knows.

You don't want it on your child's backpack, food or drink, shower curtain, t-shirt (you know those big iron-on pictures?), rain coat, lunch bag or teething ring.

Below are a few guidelines for healthier choices. You can visit my store for more ideas.

Backpacks: choose hemp, organic cotton, or recycled materials
Lunch bags: choose BPA-free and PVC-free
Lunch containers, cups, bottles and reusable utensils: choose stainless steel, bamboo utensils, stainless steel straws, cotton napkins, BPA-free and PVC-free
Shower/Bath: choose cotton shower curtains and eco-friendly non-slip bath mats
Rainwear: go PVC-free

Other tips to reduce or eliminate toxins in the kitchen:

• Boot plastic and Teflon from your kitchen - use Pyrex or stainless steel for storage, glass pitchers for juice, stainless steel cooking utensils and cast iron cookware.  
• Don't use plastic in the microwave - ever.
• Don't put hot things in your plastic food mill or blender.

For more on eliminating toxins, visit my left sidebar.