Our Mission: We are igniting a movement that inspires parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals. Donate ยป
Charity Navigator 4 Star CharityBlog
Buying a Plastic Pool with a Clear Conscience
Janelle Sorensen
Healthy Child Healthy WorldSaturday, June 14, 2008
With the dangers of certain plastics making regular headlines, it’s no surprise that we get questions from parents about all sorts of plastic products. Recently we were asked about kiddie pools, since most are made from PVC, also known as the “Poison Plastic.” Our initial searching for a safer plastic pool resulted in only one option. Kids-R-Us has hard plastic pools in a variety of colors and sizes (look for the #2 in the chasing arrows recycling code). Here are some additional thoughts for parents to consider when your options are limited.
- If you're concerned about the phthalates in vinyl, they are used to soften vinyl, so a hard plastic pool would be safer.
- If you're purging PVC from your life because you've learned what an awful plastic it is from manufacture to incineration, you'll have to balance your own ethics. I wouldn't beat myself up over a PVC pool if I'm doing my best to avoid PVC in other products. It's tough when there simply isn't an alternative.
- Consider the benefits of having a kiddie pool - the learning and development that occur when children play with water, the exercise and fresh air, the ability to quickly cool off on a hot day, etc.
- Get creative and give your pool a longer life to make your indulgence as low impact as possible. If it cracks or punctures, repair it, don't replace it. When your kids have outgrown it, pass it on or use it as a water garden in your yard (yet another learning activity for your kids).
- Call or email companies to let them know you'd like a PVC-free pool. Manufacturers won't know to make them unless we express a desire to have them. (list of manufacturers)
