Everyday products in our home like cooking pans, cosmetics, and rain jackets could be contaminated with toxic "forever chemicals."
NRDC has created a first-of-its-kind report card to guide consumers on which brands are stepping up for the environment.
NRDC has created a first-of-its-kind report card to guide consumers on which brands are stepping up for the environment.
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NewsTranscript
00:00I started skipping my period or I started having my period for months on end, which was quite a nightmare
00:18Do you know what these products all have in common?
00:20They all contain toxic chemicals called PFAS that are contaminating our plants, animals, waters and getting inside our bodies
00:27They are incredibly hard to destroy especially at the rate at which they're polluting
00:34PFAS are per and polyfluoroalkyl substances
00:38They're primarily used to repel water and grease. The most well-known use of PFA is in Teflon
00:43Which is a coating used on pots and pans to make cooking easier so food doesn't stick to them. Hence the term nonstick pan
00:49There's two reasons why they're called a forever chemical. One reason is because they bio-accumulate
01:01This means that it's very difficult for our bodies to expel them
01:04So they really just build up inside us
01:06The second reason they're called forever chemicals is because they really never break down once they enter the environment
01:19They also showed links between PFAS and disrupted reproductive health and as we know, reproductive health is largely orchestrated by hormones
01:33If a piece of apparel is labeled as water-resistant, stain-resistant, breathable, chances are the manufacturer has added something to make it so
01:55And chances are that what they've added is PFAS
02:03We were looking to see which brands have actually made commitments or already achieved elimination of PFAS in their supply chain
02:17Brands that received high scores include Keen Footwear which has almost entirely eliminated PFAS from its supply chain
02:26Victoria's Secret has also eliminated PFAS and several other companies are in the process of removing PFAS
02:33Ralph Lauren, PVH which is the parent company for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle
02:39Unfortunately, there are some brands that did not do so well on our report card
02:43Those include REI, Columbia Sportswear, Wolverine Worldwide
02:48Almost all the outdoor brands we surveyed did not have a public time-bound commitment to eliminate PFAS from their supply chains
02:55So many people are oblivious to the dangers of PFAS
02:58Educate yourself on which brands and products contain PFAS
03:01If you find that one of your favorite brands uses PFAS, let them know
03:05Write them an email, tweet at them, stay really loud about businesses trying to take advantage of consumers and hold them accountable