Microsoft has knuckled under to an environmental pressure group known as the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice by deciding to discontinue the use of PVC plastic clamshell packaging. This is in spite of the fact that there is no evidence that the plastic causes any harm to humans. In fact, the FDA has denied petitions by CHEJ and Greenpeace to ban the substance because all of their evidence suggests that it is perfectly safe. This article on Foxnews.com by Steven Milloy over at JunkScience.com tells the whole story and explains how environmental groups are pressuring businesses to discontinue the use of certain products that they fail to get banned by government regulators. Milloy sums up his discussion this way:
“CHEJ?s theory, I suspect, is that if enough private companies can be pressured to join the anti-PVC bandwagon, PVC will eventually become so politically incorrect that no one will dare use it — thereby causing a de facto ban of a perfectly legal and safe material.
“And what does Microsoft care if the PVC scare is junk science-based?
After all, it easily can substitute cardboard or a non-chlorine plastic for PVC and pass any incremental costs on to its suppliers or customers — thereby ridding themselves of pesky activists in a cost-effective manner while perhaps scoring some public relations kudos at the same time for being ?eco-friendly.? It?s a no-brainer — or is it?
The role of business in society is to create the products, services, jobs and wealth that fuel our (enviably high) standard of living. Businesses are not some sort of back-up or alternative government to be harnessed by social activists who have failed to implement their social and political agendas through the traditional public political process.”
