The power of the consumer and organized public pressure to reflect consumer interests:
According to the July 2000 issue of Modern Plastics ("Citrate, polyester plasticizers find
opportunities in flexible PVC," at p. 33), manufacturers are seriously looking at
alternative softeners to phthlates in PVC, even though phthalates, which constitute 40% by
weight, cost $0.70/lb., while one substitute, citrate (from citric acid), costs $2.50/lb.
They do not concede that there is a health basis for eliminating phthalates, but "'[t]here
is no doubt that consumers and government agencies are concerned,'" says David Gleeson,
president of Morflex. "Consumer awareness of the dangers of phthalates exists, a Morflex
sponsored study conducted at the last Hong Kong Trade Fair has shown. That survey found
80% of mothers in the Asia Pacific region said they would be willing to paymore to ensure
toy safety....Furthermore, by Gleeson's estimate, the added cost for a large toy would
come out to be about $0.04 per unit. For many customers, Gleeson remakrs, such a marginal
increase is more than justified by an increase in 'green' sales or from capturing a higher
market share."
Peter
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com
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