Imported furniture killing consumers one flat pack at a time According to statistics released by Engineered Wood Products Association of Australia (EWPAA) three out of four Chinese manufactured flat pack products it tested failed to meet the Australian limits for Formaldehyde (a chemical known to cause cancer). 1 Furthermore a Government investigation reported 3 years ago on living conditions of intervention staff and police officers in the Northern Territory revealed 50 staff were exposed to concerning levels of the substance in the converted shipping containers they were living in for 6 months. Formaldehyde is used as an additive in adhesive resin in wood products like MDF and particleboard. All Australian made products must meet these guidelines but a study by the Australian Environmental Labelling Association found that almost half of imported wood panel flat pack products failed to meet the Australian standard. Flatpack furniture products, especially kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, office furniture and media units are increasingly found with excessive levels of lead formaldehyde, both highly toxic especially to children who are likely to lick and chew these products when playing. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) told the ABC2 that its union workers are exposed to the carcinogenic substance in their daily workplace. They have reported range of detrimental health effects from short term exposure including asthma, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, severe excema and dizziness. Australian manufactured flat pack furniture company Evolvex uses E0 grade board in its products, which means that the emissions which means the emissions are close to naturally occurring level so wood. Director Priyanka Rao says ‘We have an ethical responsibility as a manufacturer and retailer to be honest in the chemical content of our product. Formaldehyde exposure occurs over the long term and while something may seem good value at point of purchase the reason products are cheaper is because there have been short cuts taken in the manufacturing, and the long term affect is far more severe.� The sheer amount of academic research and reports from industry bodies would clearly indicate that this is a Federal issue that requires action from the government to put into place compulsory formaldehyde content reporting and standards for local and imported product. After all in the end it is the consumer that suffers. For further information about responsible manufacturing please visit http://www.evolvex.com.au/manufacture. For further comment: Priyanka Rao contactus@evolvex.com // 0423 630 485
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http://www.ewp.asn.au/newsandmedia/downloads/article-airwebreath.pdf http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-04-24/formaldehyde-is-the-next-asbestos-cfmeu/2414554