Consumers should avoid and boycott products
manufactured with PVC or packaged in PVC. Look for these identifying
symbols:
-
#3 inside the recycling logo
-
V
-
PVC
The manufacture and incineration of PVC (polyvinyl
chloride) produces dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor,
and also one of the most toxic substances known.
PVC Labelling
Many personal care products are bottled in
PVC (#3). Read labels carefully, and choose products with fewer, simpler
ingredients and sounder packaging, such as glass, plastics #1 or
#2, or recycled aluminum.
Plastics that are less harmful are made of
polyethylene
and are known as PET (labelled #1) or HDPE (labelled #2). Look for the
number
on plastic packaging which is located inside the recycling symbol. And
stay
away from #3 or higher!
Plastics Recycling...NOT!
Plastic cannot really be recycled. It can
only be "downcycled". Downcycled means that when a plastic bottle
is melted down and sent to be re-processed it will not be made back into
a plastic bottle, but instead will make up part of a lower grade
plastic item such as a park bench or plastic pipe. New virgin plastic will
be manufactured to make a new plastic bottle. Glass and aluminum in contrast
can be recycled over and over again into the same product. And glass can
even be reused many times over.
Remember to avoid plastic #3 or higher.
And always follow the 3 Rs in this order:
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
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