Top Retailer Trying to Make a Difference

My article is not really about the environment, but is about a company taking an initiative to improve both public’s health. In the article, it was announced that Wal-Mart, out of all companies, has banned polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a chemical that is a flame retardant and used in electronics, furniture, sporting goods, pet supplies, curtains, toys, and etc. The chemical has been found to cause health problems in lab animals. And recently the EPA listed PBDEs as a chemical to be concerned about. Even though it is on this list it is still not banned in the United States.
So Wal-Mart banning it is a huge step forward in lowering the usage of the chemical, and that is why I chose this article. It is also shows Wal-Mart in a different light without all the flank the chain gets from multiple sources, the fact that they came out before the government in banning a substance, instead of being told to do it afterwards, so kudos to Wal-Mart. And since Wal-Mart is a major buyer of almost everything, it is going to change the usage of the PBDEs. Producers that use PBDEs are going to be reluctant to use it if they cannot get it to the major retailer. Wal-Mart is taking the same steps that Whole Foods took when it refused to sale bottles that had BPA’s in it.
This story also brings in a bit of hope. If a major retailer, in the future, is able to say that they do not want a product for fears of it not being environmental. This could cause producers of those certain produce that use unsustainable materials to change their production patterns and supplies, so they do not lose out on the market. It is as the top scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, Richard Dension, states about the new Wal-Mart ban, “The companies producing for Wal-Mart are not going to a special line for them and another line with those chemicals for everyone else. And this is going to make it easier for other retailers to follow suit.” I know it is a bit far fetch, but one can only hope that m in the future more companies would require higher environmental standards for the produces.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022502977.html?hpid=moreheadlines