The Indisposable Podcast®

Materials Detox

Episode Summary

Banning bad chemicals through savvy citizen campaigns, w/ Mike Schade, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition

Episode Notes

Think compostables are healthier than other packaging solutions? You may want to check out Mind the Store’s report on PFAS chemicals at top grocery chain for a disturbing reality check on these chemicals in compostables and other food packaging.

And is it a coincidence that Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s made bold commitments to reduce PFAS chemicals in their products the same week this report came out? We think not.

Listen to learn about the behind the scenes strategy that went into this and other big toxics campaign wins from one of the great minds in social change work in America, Mike Schade.

Mike currently spearheads the Mind the Store campaign for the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition, which pressures retailers to take more leadership on getting toxic chemicals off their shelves and develop systemic safer chemicals policies. He’s a bit of an unsung hero who has quietly led award-winning policy and corporate campaigns that have helped phase out toxic chemicals and materials like PVC plastic, phthalates, BPA and dioxin, flame retardants, methylene chloride, and now PFAS. We can all thank him for reducing our everyday exposure to some nasty chemicals that should have never been in our homes in the first place, which is probably why Ethisphere Magazine listed him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics for 2007.

Quick links on some of the recent wins discussed in this episode:
Take Out Toxics report
Whole Foods win
This just in: EPA ban on consumer uses of paint strippers!

Listen now to hear about some of Mike’s secrets to success, & subscribe to The Indisposable Podcast to stay updated on more solutions-focused inspirations!