IS YOUR SOFA TREATED WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS?
They build up in our bodies, and are linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, decreased fertility, neurological impairments, lower birth weight and a range of other health and developmental problems.
Many scientific studies show that flame retardant chemicals pollute the environment and contaminate the food chain. Evidence of any meaningful improvement in fire safety from the use of flame retardants in furniture is lacking, while they can increase smoke toxicity.
Is the risk worth it?
THE TRUTH ABOUT FLAME RETARDANTS
Flame retardants are found in a variety of household products despite evidence they put people’s health at risk.
Found in dust
“We spend up to 90% of our time indoors – in our homes, our offices or at school.
However, studies show that indoor environment can be more polluted and therefore worse for our health than air outdoors.
Worrying harmful chemical pollutants such as flame retardants have been routinely found in dust.
Children, particularly babies and toddlers playing on floors, are specifically vulnerable to ingesting these pollutants through breathing in or eating dust”.
Michael Warhurst
ChemTrust
Toxins in, toxins out
“We have already seen kitchen utensil and plastics cutlery with hazardous flame retardants.
As long as toxic chemicals enter the cycle, they might end up recycled into new products. Toxins in, toxins out.”
Joan Marc Simon
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE)
Toxins Fire toxicity
“Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants can increase fire toxicity, but their overall benefit in improving fire safety has not been proven.”
San Antonio Statement
more than 200 worldwide experts
Toxins in, toxins out
“We have already seen kitchen utensil and plastics cutlery with hazardous flame retardants. As long as toxic chemicals enter the cycle, they might end up recycled into new products. Toxins in, toxins out.”
Joan Marc Simon
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE)
The risk is not worth it
An Alliance of stakeholders, NGOs and industry is strongly committed to end the use of flame retardants in the furniture sector:
“Mounting evidence makes it clear that using flame retardants in furniture is simply not worth the risk.
They provide little meaningful protection against fires, but they do pose health risks”.
The Alliance for Flame Retardants Free Furniture
There is no need to choose between fire safety and preventing exposure to hazardous flame retardants.
The Alliance for Flame Retardant Free Furniture is calling on the European Commission and the EU Member States to harmonise furniture flammability requirements at a level that would not lead to flame retardants use, considering health and environmental risks.
A safe fire safety is possible.
