Children's equipment manufacturers the Early Learning Centre and Mothercare are among retailers who have signed the Friends of the Earth Safer Chemicals Pledge. This commits them to identify which of their products contain risky chemicals and to phase them out from their own-brand goods within five years.
Friends of the Earth sent questionnaires to retailers asking about chemicals in their products. Ikea, Body Shop and Marks & Spencer came out top for their strong commitment to reducing use of risky chemicals. The Early Learning Centre and Mothercare came sixth and twentieth in the league table respectively.
The Early Learning Centre acknowledged that phthalates could be found in some of its products. Phthalates are used as softeners in toys made of PVC plastic and are suspected of causing cancer, kidney damage and disruption of the body's hormone system.
Mothercare said it sells some products containing phthalates, brominated flame-retardants, bisphenol A, alkylphenols and triclosan. These chemicals can accumulate in the human body or disrupt hormone systems.
Karine Pallaumail, safer chemicals campaigner at Friends of the Earth, is encouraged by the number of retailers who have signed the pledge. She said, 'It commits companies to changing their whole chain of operation, from manufacturers to suppliers, to retailers. People can press for change by e-mailing retailers via the Friends of the Earth website, where there is also information on how to do more for the safer chemicals campaign.'
Parents and carers concerned about chemicals in children's products are advised to avoid any containing PVC. A list of baby bottles that are free from bisphenol A is available in the 'Shop til you drop?' survey at www.foe. co.uk/campaigns/safer_chemicals/resource/retailers.html.