REI to take away ‘endlessly chemical substances’ from merchandise like pans, coats
Outside retailer REI desires “endlessly chemical substances” out of the merchandise it sells … endlessly.
The Seattle-headquartered outside gear and clothes vendor introduced new requirements eradicating these chemical substances referred to as PFAS (for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which have been utilized in making merchandise corresponding to non-stick pans, raincoats, tents, and backpacks.
Notably, all cookware and lots of textile merchandise – together with garments, backpacks and footwear – bought at REI should be PFAS-free by fall 2024. All textile merchandise should be PFAS-free by fall 2026, the corporate mentioned Tuesday.
REI’s product requirements, which the corporate says are among the many first within the retail trade, “exhibit our collective energy to drive change inside our trade and society as we work in direction of a extra sustainable and equitable future,” mentioned Chris Speyer, REI’s vice chairman of product, in an announcement.
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What are PFAS or endlessly chemical substances?
There are about 12,000 totally different sorts of PFAS and so they’ve been utilized in waterproof clothes and carpeting, in addition to stain-resistant remedies.
Two of probably the most generally famous PFAS chemical substances are:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which is present in Teflon;
- And perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, present in waterproof clothes and protecting sprays.
Each chemical substances have been phased out of manufacturing within the 2000s.
However these “endlessly chemical substances” don’t break down as many others do, and the substances have been linked in people to dangers for most cancers, low birthweights, weakened childhood immunity, thyroid illness and different well being issues. The chemical substances are so prevalent that the Environmental Safety Company says almost each American has PFAS of their our bodies.
May REI’s ban on PFAS result in different retailers doing so?
Watchdog teams hope so. As a part of a marketing campaign began in 2021 to get retailers to ban PFAs, advocacy teams together with Poisonous-Free Future and Safer States wrote letters to REI CEO Eric Artz and staged actions exterior REI shops.
REI was focused for its clout in outside retailing, with greater than 400 manufacturers together with The North Face and Patagonia, which has its personal purpose of eliminating PFAS and comparable chemical substances by 2024.
Now the teams have turned their consideration on one other main retailer: Dick’s Sporting Items.
“REI should take the subsequent step and work with its model companions to make sure the substitutes are really safer for individuals and the planet,” mentioned Mike Schade, director of Poisonous-Free Future’s retail advocacy marketing campaign referred to as Thoughts the Retailer, in an announcement Wednesday. “And, different retailers, like Dick’s Sporting Items, should shortly comply with go well with.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Dick’s Sporting Items for remark.
Observe Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
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