Home Depot has announced that it will no longer sell vinyl flooring materials with high levels of the toxic phthalates in its stores across the U.S. by the end of 2015.
The decision is the company's response to a recent study conducted by Ecology Center and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF) pointing out the high toxicity levels of the vinyl floors found in three of the biggest home improvement retailers in the country.
Home Depot has asked suppliers of vinyl floors to eliminate phthalates that can damage the complete development of male infants, and has asked suppliers to do so until the end of this year, according to the New York Times.
Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes said in an email that while only 15 percent of the vinyl floor products that the retailer sells contain phthalates, the company chose to be vigilant on the matter.
CNN said in a related report that the move is part of Home Depot's initiative to challenge suppliers to come up with new, innovative options for their products and at the same time be beneficial to consumers in the long term.
SCHF director Andy Igrejas said in an issued statement that this would make an impact on his organization's campaign to eliminate the toxic substance from invading homes.
Igrejas added that this is a big initiative for Home Depot, and that SCHF hopes Lowe's and other home improvement retailers to do the same.
SCHF is working closely with the Ecology Center in the initiative to promote healthier living spaces.
The Ecology Center recently released a study on vinyl flooring sold in Lowe's, Home Depot and Lumber Liquidators, in which it found that of the 65 vinyl flooring tiles tested, 38 or about 58 percent contained the toxic material.
