Safer Chemicals for Safer Families and Communities

Spring is finally here! It’s my favorite time of year, despite the unpredictable Massachusetts weather. Spring means greening foliage and blooming flowers. It also means shopping for all things spring -- and the first place I head to is Marshalls, or T.J. Maxx.  These stores have great deals and a large selection. As a customer, neighbor (the parent company TJX is headquartered in Massachusetts), and activist I want to be able to say “and its wide collection of safe and non-toxic products” —but I can’t.

One piece of this puzzle, however, is crystal clear:  the root cause of this problem is the manufacturing and promotion of PFAS by the chemical industry, even though internal documents reveal they knew about its toxicity for decades.

I hope that the holiday season was for you a time of joy and togetherness. If you’re like many people, December also meant shopping—for friends, family, or even yourself. Gift giving is a way to show kindness and appreciation to our loved ones, but all too often we may give gifts that cause unintended harm as well.