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Target Uncovered:
The Poison Plastic
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Click here for printable PDF version of this factsheet
Are Target’s Products Safe?
Target may have the latest hip designs, but their aisles are filled with products made from chemicals linked to cancer. Target sells many products made out of or packaged in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the poison plastic. These products are dangerous to our health and environment from start to finish—in the factory, at home, and in the trash—releasing poisonous chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects.
Target’s PVC Products Manufactured With
Dangerous Chemicals
The production of Target’s PVC products requires toxic chemicals, including cancer-causing vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride. PVC factories are disproportionately located in low-income or minority communities and have been found to expose workers and neighbors to dangerous chemicals.
What’s that Toxic Stench?
Target’s PVC Shower Curtains
Target’s chic PVC products are useless without the addition of toxic additives. Children chewing on vinyl toys can be exposed to chemicals linked to reproductive harm. These chemicals are so bad they’ve been banned from use in toys in Europe. The familiar smell of your new Target shower curtain is that of poisonous chemicals being released into your home. An EPA study found that one new vinyl shower curtain can lead to elevated levels of dangerous toxics in your home for over one month.
PVC Pollutes Recycling Materials
PVC products sold by Target cannot be effectively recycled due to the many different toxic additives in the product, which can contaminate the recycling batch. Just one PVC bottle can contaminate a recycling load of 100,000 recyclable bottles!
Safe and Cost-Effective Alternatives Are Available
The good news is that safe, cost-effective alternatives are available for virtually every PVC product or packaged material sold by Target. In fact, Target already sells some products, such as PEVA shower curtains, out of safer plastics.
Target Lags Behind Other Retailers in Taking Action on PVC
Last year, Wal-Mart committed to phase out private label PVC packaging in two years. Other companies phasing out PVC include Nike, Microsoft, Ikea, H&M, and Johnson and Johnson.
Ask Target to Truly Promote Healthy Living By Phasing Out PVC
Join consumers in asking Target to follow other retailers such as IKEA and H&M to phase out PVC in their products and packaging—beginning with products like children’s toys, baby products, vinyl shower curtains and packaging.
Examples of Target’s PVC Products & Safer Alternatives:
Target PVC Product |
Safer Materials Target Can Use |
Isaac Mizrahi Vinyl Shower Curtain |
PEVA plastic or Polyester, which use less harmful chemicals |
Packaging of Salon Series Curling Irons |
PET plastic, a more recyclable plastic that uses less harmful chemicals |
Children’s toys and baby products |
Polyethylene or Polypropylene plastics, which use less harmful chemicals |
What Can I Do?
1. Contact Target today
Contact Target’s CEO and let him know PVC plastic is out of style and encourage him to develop a plan and timeline to phase out PVC. Also, please let your Target store manager know that you’re concerned about this issue and encourage them to contact their regional manager and corporate headquarters.
Take action today! Send Target a free letter at www.pvcfree.org
CALL: 1-800-591-3869
WRITE: Bob Ulrich, CEO
Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
2. Watch a hilarious video and learn more
Watch the hilarious new animated detective spoof about dangerous chemicals in our homes, Sam Suds and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic, online at www.pvcfree.org
3. Spread the word
Tell your friends and family about PVC’s impact on our health and environment,
and encourage them to contact Target and watch the new spoof video. Print
copies of this fact sheet and pass them on.
4. Purchase safer products
Use your consumer power to help shift the market away from PVC products. Click here for resources on safe alternatives to
PVC. Avoid products made out of PVC that are labeled “vinyl”. One way to be
sure if the packaging of a product is made from PVC is to look for the number“3” inside or the letter “V” underneath the recycling symbol.
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