 Companies > PVC Company Policies > Microsoft Letter
Letter to Microsoft in October 2004
October 29, 2004
Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer
Bill Gates, Chairman
Microsoft
1 Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052
Dear Mr. Ballmer and Mr. Gates:
In our industry investigation on PVC (polyvinyl chloride) use, we found that Microsoft uses PVC “blister pack” packaging for software, such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
We are writing to urge you to replace PVC packaging with non-PVC alternatives. PVC poses significant harm to public health and the environment. As a global industry leader, we request Microsoft select an environmentally preferable and safer packaging material.
Microsoft’s Public Policy on Purchasing, Packaging and Products states, “Packaging for our hardware and software products is also designed to reduce environmental impact, including the elimination of plastic shrink-wrap from Microsoft packages and software manuals.” In a recent retail survey in Virginia, we found 14 different Microsoft software products were being sold in PVC blister packs. Here is why we believe Microsoft should discontinue the use of PVC in your products and in your packaging.
PVC is the most damaging plastic to human health and the environment. Unlike the many plastics made without chlorine, PVC poses serious environmental health threats throughout its life cycle. The production of PVC requires the manufacture of raw chemicals, including highly polluting chlorine, and cancer-causing vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride. Dumping PVC packaging and product waste in landfills poses significant long-term environmental threats due to leaching of toxic additives into groundwater, dioxin-forming landfill fires, and the release of toxic emissions in landfill gases.
PVC is very difficult to recycle because of the many different formulations used to make PVC products. PVC can never be truly recycled into the same quality material—it usually ends up being made into lower quality products with less stringent requirements. When PVC products are mixed in with the recycling of non-chlorinated plastics, such as in bottle recycling programs, they contaminate the entire recycling process.
Burning PVC plastic forms dioxins, a highly toxic group of chemicals that build up in the food chain. Dioxins are a class of chlorine-containing chemicals widely recognized as some of the most toxic and persistent chemicals ever made by humans. Once released, dioxins accumulate in soils and on vegetation, where they are ingested or otherwise taken up by fish, cattle and other animals that we eat. Consequently, dioxins are eaten by humans and contaminate the tissues, blood and breast milk of people throughout the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified the most potent of the dioxins as a human carcinogen, estimating a 1 in 1,000 risk to Americans from cancer due to exposure. Dioxins are also associated with a wide range of non-cancer effects including altered sexual development, reproductive problems, diabetes and organ toxicity. As a consequence of these serious health threats, dioxins were among the first twelve chemicals targeted for elimination by an international treaty on persistent organic pollutants. The United States signed this treaty.
In addition, the National Toxicology Program and other U.S. agencies classify vinyl chloride—the building block of PVC resin— as “known to be a human carcinogen.” PVC production has been found to expose workers and surrounding communities to vinyl chloride and studies have documented links between working in vinyl chloride production facilities and the increased likelihood of developing diseases including angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare form of liver cancer, and other non-cancer disorders.
Furthermore, additives mixed with PVC resins such as stabilizers, plasticizers, and fillers can leach out of, or volatilize from, a PVC product during its useful life. Phthalates (plasticizers) may pose hazards, including the development of respiratory problems in children.
Recognizing the role that PVC plays in the creation and distribution of dioxins globally, numerous governments and companies have already enacted PVC restrictions or have policies to eliminate PVC. A growing number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers are moving away from polluting products towards safer, more practical alternatives that are available today. An increasing number of savvy consumers are seeking PVC-free products. Companies such as IKEA, Nike and Body Shop are eliminating PVC from their products, and we would like to add your company’s name to that list.
This year, our organizations will be publishing a national report on the hazards of PVC disposal, which will feature a PVC phase out plan. Groups around the country will release the report at media events, and provide examples of PVC products and packaging. We would like to be able to state that your company is committed to phasing out PVC in its packaging.
Your Public Policy on the Environment includes a statement that, “As a global corporate citizen, Microsoft recognizes its environmental responsibility. Through our business operations, products, and partnerships, we are continuing to work to help promote long-term sustainability of the global environment.” We urge you to promote sustainability by phasing out the use of PVC, the “poison plastic,” in your packaging and products, wherever available alternatives exist. Microsoft can prevent harm from PVC by replacing it with safer, cost-effective alternatives. Safer alternatives to PVC are widely available and effective for many major uses in packaging, building materials, office supplies and consumer goods. Many other plastic resins can substitute for PVC when natural materials are not available.
Please inform the Center for Health, Environment & Justice and the BE SAFE Network if Microsoft will phase out its use of PVC packaging and utilize environmentally sound materials, so we can let our members know. Please provide a response by November 30, 2004 to Anne Rabe at CHEJ via fax, email or mail. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Lois
Marie Gibbs
Center
for Health, Environment & Justice
P.O.
Box 6806
Falls
Church, VA 22046
Anne
Rabe
BE
SAFE Network
CHEJ
1265
Maple Hill Rd.
Castleton,
NY 12033
annerabe@msn.com
518-732-4538
Heidi
Melander
Northern California Recycling Assoc
P.O. Box 5581
Berkeley, California 94705
David Monk
Oregon Toxics Alliance
P.O. Box 1106
Eugene, Oregon 97440
Brandie Smith
Washington
Toxics Coalition
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N #540
Seattle, Washington 98103
Beverley Thorpe
Clean
Production Action
5964 Ave. Notre Dame de Grace
Montreal,
Quebec
Canada H4A 1N1
Michael Belliveau
Environmental
Health Strategy Center
One Pleasant Street, Fourth Floor
Portland, Maine 04101
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