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
DVD
in Eco Sleeves
DVD
in DigiPak |
