Checkbook Covers May Soon Be Phthalate-Free - by Lindsey Konkel at Environmental Health News

Excerpted from full article at Environmental Health News:  A settlement between Deluxe Corp., a large, Minnesota-based manufacturer of checkbook covers, and a consumer advocate requires the company to remove a phthalate from checkbook covers or label their products with a health warning. 

In 2012, California resident Russell Brimer alleged in the lawsuit that Deluxe Corp. was selling checkbook covers containing traces of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Known as DEHP, it is used to soften plastics. Chemical manufacturers have said that phthalates are safe at the small amounts found in vinyl products.

The lawsuit alleged that testing showed that the levels of the chemical in the checkbook covers exceeded the amount that the state deemed safe under Prop. 65. The settlement includes a commitment by Deluxe that all checkbook covers sold in California will not contain DEHP at a level exceeding 0.1 percent or they will contain health hazard warnings.

“Often companies will opt to reformulate products rather than adding warnings, resulting in safer products for consumers,” said Sam Delson, deputy director of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which determines which chemicals qualify for the law.

Deluxe Corporation, which says it is “America’s best-known check brand,” has 4 million small business customers and 6,200 financial institution clients.

As part of the settlement, Deluxe will pay up to $135,000 in fines, with a portion to be waived if the company meets a June, 2015 deadline of certifying that it at has reformulated at least 90 percent of its checkbook covers.  

For the full article, click here.