Crabtree and Evelyn, an international manufacturer and retailer of personal care products, has announced it is speeding up plans to stop using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging products by March 2009. Johnson & Johnson says it will reduce use of PVC packaging by 70% by year end 2007.

“We are thrilled that both these companies have decided to expand earlier commitments they made,” says Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), an environmental health advocacy group that has been leading a drive to eliminate PVC in packaging. Gibbs says studies show links between chemicals in PVC and health complications.