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 For Immediate Release June 29, 2005 Contact: Margie Kelly, 541-344-2282 or Margie@healthybuilding.net
Washington, DC - The first study to rate plastic lumber strictly on environmental and public health priorities finds huge disparities in environmental quality, including recycled content that ranges from 0 to 100%, according to the Healthy Building Network (HBN), which released its Guide To Plastic Lumber today. "The good news is that environmentally preferable products are positioned to become the plastic lumber industry standard," said Bill Walsh, National Coordinator of HBN and report co-author. Of the 38 products reviewed, more than one-third of them earned the top ranking of "Most Environmentally Preferable." Nationally known brands Trex, Home Depot's Veranda, and the Weyerhauser ChoiceDek products featured at Lowe's earned a "Less Preferable" designation for having lower recycled plastic content and for mixing plastics and wood. Three products (Synboard, eon and CertainTeed's Boardwalk) made from unrecycled plastic were labeled "greenwash." By releasing the guide, HBN seeks to both assist consumers making environmentally sound choices about plastic lumber, and to positively influence the direction of the plastic lumber industry toward sustainable products. "Think of 100% recycled plastic as sustainably harvested lumber. Think of virgin PVC lumber as the equivalent of a clear cut," said Walsh. "We have the opportunity to steer the emerging plastic lumber market. Let's not make the same mistakes made by the natural lumber industry 100 years ago." In 2002, HBN initiated a consumer campaign that resulted in a negotiated agreement to eliminate the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) wood treatment formula from approximately 80% of the annual $4 billion pressure-treated wood market. This ended, as of January 2004, the nation's largest use of arsenic and the largest source of arsenic exposure to Americans. It has also contributed to the growth of the plastic lumber market in applications ranging from playground equipment to decking and park benches. The Healthy Building Network's Guide to Plastic Lumber is available to download from HBN's website at http://www.healthybuilding.net. |
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