Does "PVC Free" mean PVC Free?
PVC is (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl. "When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems." PVC is often used in conjuction with metals, including lead. You can't really tell if there is PVC in lunch boxes, but there is guidance on how to test vinyl lunch boxes for lead (DIY kits and the like).
Maura passes on her experience in her search for the PVC free lunch box:
I thought this might be interesting to the urbanmama community. I saw the piece about school lunches and the mention of the PVC-free butterfly lunch box. I had been looking around for a PVC-free lunch box and tracked down the one mentioned made by Crocodile Creek at Grasshopper on Alberta. When wiping out the lunch box before we used it for our first day of school, I decided to take a look at the tag inside and to my surprise PVC was noted twice in the fabric content!!! This after the cute tag on the front says "100% FREE PVC!" I called Grasshoppers who called Crocodile Creek and they were told that the lunch boxes really are PVC free, but the wrong tags were put into some of the lunchboxes??? Grasshopper pulled all the lunchboxes and are sending them back to the manufacturer. Grasshopper was awesome and gave us cash back and seemed genuinely concerned. It's hard to know if these lunch boxes are what buyers thought. I'm sure some of those parents would like to know.
Has anyone encountered purportedly PVC-Free lunchboxes whose labels read differently? Crocodile Creek states "We have given special attention to make certain that the lunchboxes currently offered by Crocodile Creek do conform to the current U.S. & European Consumer Product Safety Standards as well as FDA recommendations. Our lunchboxes are lead safe, 100% Phthalate and PVC free."
I found a PVC free lunch solution (wouldn't consider it a box per se). It is called lap top lunch and I found it at New Seasons. I discovered this through the chef ann website who is radically changing the lunch program in the Berkeley area. The lap top lunch "box" is all about a waste free lunch. It includes the "box" as well as book about lunch waste and food variety and suggestions. Good luck!!!
Posted by: Kimmy Simon | September 14, 2007 at 05:10 AM
Hmmmmm...the free cooler bags we received with formula when my baby was born have a 100% PVC, Made in China tag...
Posted by: Barbara | September 14, 2007 at 06:27 PM
My daughter's new Crocodile Creek lunchbox has the newer non-PVC tags, so they are out there.
Posted by: Liz | September 15, 2007 at 12:14 AM
What about the old metal lunch boxes we used as kids? Are they safe? I've been packing my daughter's lunch in one of those, using small plastic food containers and/or sandwich bags for the food inside. It doesn't insulate, but is there any other reason not to use them?
Posted by: Jenny | September 15, 2007 at 01:15 PM
the fleurville lunch paks (and ALL fleurville bags) are also pvc-free.
Posted by: megan | September 16, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Ooh, yes! I love the Fleurville bags. They carry them at (local PDX mama-owned shop) Black Wagon: http://www.blackwagon.com/black-wagon/flr003o-fleurville-lunch-bag.html
Posted by: olivia | September 16, 2007 at 09:14 PM
Lands' End sells PVC free lunch boxes as well and they have cute monogramming.
Posted by: Julie Christian | May 23, 2008 at 11:11 AM
California Innovations carries PVC-free and lead-free lunch packs. They can be found at various retail stores, or online at www.californiainnovations.com
"Ultra Safe™ products from California Innovations™
As the largest manufacturer of soft sided insulated products in the world, we believe it is our responsibility to provide our valued customers with important information regarding the steps we take to ensure only the safest products are delivered to market. At California Innovations™, we call this Ultra Safe™.
**Ultra Safe™ stands for safe products
Our Ultra Safe™ interior liners are FDA compliant, PVC free and lead free
**Our hard plastic liners and bottles are FDA compliant, PVC free and lead free
**Our products meet or exceed all known international and U.S. safety standards
**Our products have passed our own very rigorous Lead Safe Detection System™
All products manufactured by California Innovations™ undergo an enforced testing protocol to ensure that they meet the criteria set by the Ultra Safe™ designation, a guarantee that the California Innovations™ product you have purchased is safe."
Posted by: Maura L | June 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM
I have been on a quest for PVC, BPA, Lead and Phthalate free lunch box/bag and backpacks for a month now! I am totally obsessed with this! Ugh! Does anyone know if Pottery Barn Kids' backpacks and lunch bags are free of these toxic killers? How about Garnet Hill? They are so cute. The details on these products are a bit vague....I have emailed and called both companies about this. Some of them state that they comply with regulations....interesting...this does not necessarily mean "free of".
Help!
Posted by: Trisha | August 22, 2009 at 05:05 PM
I was just looking at the Pottery Barn ones as well. They say BPA free but I don't believe they are PVC free.
Posted by: Nicole | August 27, 2009 at 01:53 PM