Are Your Warehouse Signs Poisoning The Planet?

They may seem harmless and helpful.  Hanging above your warehouse floor, up there to allow your crew better visibility of where they are and where all your inventory is located.  But, are you sure those innocuous looking little signs aren’t really a hazard for everyone in your warehouse?  The answer to that may depend on what those signs are made of.  Warehouse signage is made of many different materials.  Most commonly some type of plastic polymer is used to create them.   Each has varying degrees of rigidity, color fastness and price.  However, there is one plastic material that you should stay away from at ANY price. 

What is PVC?

According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, a non-profit organization based in New York, polyvinyl chloride is "one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created" [source: CHEJ].  The group has launched a publicity campaign against the production of polyvinyl chloride, called "PVC: Poison Plastic".

The group states their claim because the production of PVC requires a series of chemical reactions. Each step releases waste byproducts, which may enter the atmosphere, groundwater and soil. Manufacturing chlorine produces other chemicals, like dioxins, which have been shown to cause cancer.  Some of these waste byproducts are also sent to landfills by companies that produce PVC and its building blocks.

In addition here are a few other points of interest about PVC plastic:

• PVC plastic has been found by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse of the Council of State Governments and others to have a high incidence rate of lead and cadmium heavy metal contamination. 
• Many types of PVC packaging contain phthalates, a class of chemicals that have hormone-disrupting effects on humans.
• The combustion of PVC emits dioxins.
• PVC packaging is recycled at very low levels.
• PVC is a problematic contaminant in the recycling stream of other, more abundant, nontoxic plastic resins, preventing municipalities from accepting greater quantities of packaging for recycling and preventing municipalities from achieving higher landfill diversion rates.
• When disposed of in a solid waste landfill or as litter, PVC packaging may leach its toxins into the surrounding groundwater.
• Recognizing the threat leeched toxins pose on marine wildlife, the Ocean Protection Council recently passed a resolution calling for the banning of vinyl chloride in plastic packaging.
• Alternatives to polyvinyl chloride plastic are abundant, affordable, and are already competitive in the marketplace, including polystyrene.

Of the above mentioned items, perhaps the biggest problem associated with PVC products is found at the end of their life span. PVC products can’t be incinerated (or at least they shouldn’t be), and their introduction into landfills poses a threat, as well. As PVC products break down, the lead, mercury, phthalamites and chlorine involved in their creation can leak into groundwater, eventually making it into a water supply.

Even recycling PVC products is problematic. Reconstituting PVC products into new ones is considered difficult and uneconomical. PVC is created from chlorine through chemical processes, but it isn’t recycled easily.

The PVC industry is facing great challenges. Companies are beginning to discontinue the use of PVC packaging, and others are stopping use of PVC altogether.  The list includes a virtual who's who among American industry.  Companies such as Microsoft, Target, Kaiser Permanente, Crabtree & Evelyn, HP, Johnson & Johnson and Firestone have joined a host of companies that have already moved to eliminate PVC, including Adidas, Aveda, Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, Gerber, Honda, Ikea, Lego Systems, Nike, Samsung, SC Johnson, Shaw Carpet, Toyota, Victoria's Secret, Volkswagen and Volvo.  It appears that the plastic may be reaching the end of its own life cycle. The trouble is, that’s not going do much about the PVC that has already been created.

What Can You Do?

The first thing you can do is STOP using any manufacturers that are providing you with products made from PVC plastic.  Some manufacturer's have turned a blind eye towards the adverse effects that PVC has and will continue to cause, in an effort to gain market share and personal profits.  If you are currently buying or planning on buying from a manufacture that uses PVC or expanded PVC for their products, you can either ask them to join the growing list of companies that are no longer using, or, better still, find another source for your signs that isn’t using PVC.

One excellent alternative to PVC signs is High Impact Polystyrene.  Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard, flexible plastic and is an industrial strength plastic that is perfect for hanging signs.  One additional positive byproduct of polystyrene is that it can be recycled, and has the number "6" as its recycling symbol.  Ask your sign supplier for Polystyrene signs instead of PVC signs and do your best to keep our planet safe for generations to come.

Helpful Links About PVC:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PVC - Wikipedia

http://www.pvcfree.org/ - Website dedicated to the hazards of PVC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk5xXA0mdyw - Special Report from California State Assembly on the dangers of PVC