Activists wearing only cardboard boxes bearing the slogan ‘Better this than PFC gear’ highlighted the company’s use of dangerous chemicals called poly- and per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in The North Face products. Hi-res photographs available here.
Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau said: “We looked for North Face waterproof products that don’t pollute the environment but couldn’t find any, so we made do with these boxes.
“We’re all lovers of the outdoors, and it’s awful to think that by pitching a tent or wearing a jacket made by The North Face, you can be contributing to pollution.
“A company that claims to love the outdoors so much must play their part in protecting it – not polluting it with hazardous chemicals which contaminate even the most remote parts of the world and have been found in water supplies and the food chain.
“As a leading brand, The North Face can help lead the way in cleaning up outdoor clothing by eliminating dangerous chemicals from their products.”
Greenpeace activists targeted three stores: In Sydney, activists hit The North Face’s flagship Pitt Street store in Sydney and another The North Face store in Westfield in Bondi Junction. In Melbourne, activists targeted The North Face store in Bourke Street.
The demonstrations are a part of more than 100 actions taking place at The North Face and Mammut stores around the world this week after Greenpeace revealed that the companies widely use hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in their products.
As reported widely last week, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were recently found to be widespread in the use of outdoor products1. PFCs are synthetic chemical compounds which have been found to pollute even the most pristine and remote parts of the environment2, and have been detected in water supplies, the food chain and human blood. They are associated with cancer and have been found to cause harm to reproductive and hormonal systems. Last year more than 200 scientists from 38 countries signed the Madrid statement3 recommending avoiding PFCs in consumer goods.