anne rabe, be safe coordinator. pvc – the poison plastic production workers communities vinyl...

Anne Rabe, BE SAFE Coordinator

PVC – the Poison PlasticProduction

WorkersCommunitiesVinyl Chloride, EDC, Dioxins

Use Phthalates, lead, cadmium, organotins

DisposalNo Safe dispoaslIncinerators, landfills – Dioxins, additives

leachingContaminate and ruin recyclable plastics

Our Strategy High profile retailers and

consumer product companies that do business with the chemical industry.

Focus on end-users, high profile companies sensitive to brand tarnishment, industry leaders, key sectors.

Packaging, toys, shower curtains.

Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Crabtree & Evelyn.

Wal-Mart.

Target PVC Campaign 5th Largest Retailer in the

U.S. - $59 billion in sales.

Target spends A LOT of $$$ on their brand/advertising.

Target has environmental policies to leverage.

Customers care more about health/environmental issues.

Leverage Wal-Mart.

Campaign Launch – Day of Action Organizing packet for day of

action:

Event suggestions.

Timeframe for organizing an event.

Timeline and checklist.

Tips for communicating with reporters.

Flyers, hazmat suits, e-mail announcements, and other materials.

Sam Suds and the Case of PVC – the Poison Plastic

Other Campaign Activities Coalition of 16 shareholder firms

(including many religious investors) coordinated by As You Sow sent Target letter – inside strategy.

Working Assets alert to 250,000 customers – generated 25,000 letters and phone calls to Target’s headquarters.

CHEJ, Greenpeace (Target called Greenpeace to beg – “stop sending us faxes!”, and Friends of the Earth online petition campaigns.

Continued flyering, distribution of Sam Suds (DVDs), mobilizing.

Shareholders met with company – no real action yet.

Second National Day of Action Coincided with Target shareholder meeting – May 2007. Made it easier for individuals to participate – flyer/deliver letters

to stores. Also take advantage of larger network from online video/petitions.

Also had organizing guide, flyers, and other materials for groups. Events at 200 stores. Protest outside of shareholder meeting. Shareholders lent us tickets – attended inside of shareholder

meeting, dominated Q&A session. ¼ page ad in USA Today – less than $1,000, day of the meeting. Released new report: “Way Off Target: A Critical Assessment of

Target’s PVC Products and Packaging”. Since launch of campaign, Target contacted by over 40,000

customers and concerned folks.

Other Target Online Campaign ToolsDemocracy In Action

E-mail Blasts / Action AlertsOnline Petitions & FaxesTell a Friend FormsSign Up PagesE-mail TriggersWeb banners/buttons

Results - We Won!!!“Target Will Reduce

PVC Use”

“Initiative Detailed Amid Pressure From

Groups”Company commits to systematically reduce their use of PVC in products and packaging prioritizing infant products, children’s toys, and shower curtains.

Betty the Be Safe Ducky

Belly Brigade & Product Testing at Vinyl Industry Conference

Product Testing – What’s that New Shower Curtain Smell?

Moving Markets - Retailers Phasing Out PVC Shower CurtainsRipple effect through big box retail supply

chain.Wal-MartTargetSearsKmartBed Bath & BeyondJC Penneys

Promoting Alternatives – Back to School Guide & Pass Up PP

Web 2.0 - Facebook and TwitterAction Kit.Posting about guide 2

weeks leading up to it – uploading videos and content.

Heads up 1-2 weeks to key bloggers.

Asking people to post “status updates” on Facebook and Twitter

Asking people to “Retweet” on Twitter.

Asking people to post web banners on websites, blogs, Facebook/Twitter graphics.

Product Testing – BPA Leaching from Baby Bottles

Baby’s Toxic Bottle StrategyBottles tested purchased at Babies“R”Us, CVS,

Target, Toys“R”Us, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart purchased at retailers across the country.

Purchased in nine states to connect with state-campaigns.

Manufactured by Avent, Evenflo, Dr. Brown’s and Disney/First Years

Came only a few months after LDA, AAMR and other LDDI and breast cancer health-affected groups sent sign on letters same retailers.

Online petition campaign - collaborate with MOMS Rising and other groups.

Another Innovative Campaign – Green My Apple

New Direction for PVC CampaignSchoolsWhy?

Children’s health and vulnerabilitiesChildren’s diseases on the riseCongress bans phthalates in toys – but found in

schoolsPVC widespread in schools – building materialsNew studies – asthma, autism and PVC flooringSchools – huge institutional purchasers – move

markets targeting PVC bldg mats.

Thank youAnne RabeBE SAFE CoordinatorCenter for Health, Environment & Justiceannerabe@msn.com518-732-4538