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Please support our efforts
to stop the use of disc packaging made with toxic materials.
A typical disc jewelcase
is made up of 85 grams of PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC).
The production of these petrochemical plastics releases
dangerous toxins into the atmosphere. When the case is
no longer needed, it either sits for thousands of years
in landfills (PVC is not biodegradable) or is incinerated,
which releases dioxin into the atmosphere, one of the
most toxic carcinogens on the planet. A single 1,000 order
of replicated discs, using standard plastic jewel cases
creates nearly 200 lbs. of one of the most dangerously
toxic chemicals on the planet today.
Why we no longer manufacture
products that contain PVC.
PVC is a major precursor to dioxin formation and therefore
poses many serious health risks to humans throughout the
life cycle of the product. Dioxin was listed as one of
the twelve priority pollutants slated for worldwide reduction
and/or elimination (UNEP, 1995) at the UN global convention
on persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, the EPA
has stated that dioxin is 300,000 times more potent a
carcinogen than DDT (Greenpeace, 1998).
Manufacturing PVC
The manufacturing of PVC produces highly toxic byproducts
including dioxin, hydrochloric acid, and vinyl chloride.
These three toxins have been linked to severe health problems
including cancer, diabetes, neurological damage, reproductive
and birth defects. In fact, cancer blooms have been observed
in areas where PVC production facilities exist. For example,
four workers at the same PVC production plant in Kentucky
were diagnosed with an extremely rare liver sarcoma that
typically shows up in only 25 people each year (CDC, 1997).
Disposal
Another major problem with PVC is that its many additives
make it difficult to recycle. In fact, less than 1% of
post-consumer PVC is currently being recycled. Therefore,
waste PVC products are usually landfilled or incinerated.
Problems arise in the incineration of PVC because PVC
contains chlorine. Burning chlorinated plastic leads to
the formation and release of dioxins and other toxic chemicals.
Additionally, incineration of PVC leaves behind toxic
ash that must also be disposed of. Landfilling is a preferable
but not perfect alternative. PVC, like all plastics, is
not biodegradable and therefore remains in landfills indefinitely.
Additionally, it has been speculated that toxic chemicals
leach out of PVC wastes and can potentially contaminate
soil and ground water. However, because landfilling does
not involve incineration, dioxin release is not an immediate
problem (except in the case of accidental fire).
Have your discs replicated
in an environmentally friendly way.
Vote with your dollars - Buying PVC products supports
a toxic industry. If no one buys it, other disc manufacturers
simply won't make it anymore. Money is power, when it
comes to your consumer dollar!
We Recommend The Following
Eco-Friendly Packaging:
CD
in Eco Sleeves
CD in DigiPak
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