LONG ISLAND ACTION INVITE:

Tell REI – stop leaving a toxic trail of PFAS pollution!

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are writing to invite you to a corporate accountability action outside of REI’s store in Long Island on Wednesday, September 21st- demanding REI ban toxic PFAS in the products it sells! Groups in states across the country, from Alaska to Rhode Island, are holding a national week of action to call on REI to phase out and ban the sale of products containing PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals.

We hope you will join us!

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21st, Noon – 1 PM.

WHERE: Outside REI’s store in Long Island – 144 Glen Cove Road, Carle Place (get directions)

WHY: From jackets to boots, outdoor gear sold at REI and other retailers contains toxic chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). And the production, use, and disposal of these products pollute people and the planet. PFAS have contaminated drinking water in communities across New York and the country. A growing body of scientific research has found links between exposures to PFAS and a wide range of health problems including cancer, a weaker immune system, and increased cholesterol.

REI has the power to lead the outdoor apparel industry in a bold phase-out of PFAS from products.

Over the last year, more than 110,000 REI customers and members have signed petitions and sent e-mails to the company demanding action. So far, REI has only taken tiny baby steps on PFAS, while other brands and retailers like Patagonia are phasing out PFAS. If they can do it, surely REI can too!

WHO: Join Clean & Healthy New York, JustGreen Partnership, Green Inside & Out, Toxic-Free Future, Mind the Store, Clean Water Action, and other NY environmental health leaders to demand REI ban toxic PFAS! We’ll pass out leaflets to customers, hold signs, deliver a letter to the store manager, and amplify the action on social media. This will be a safe and fun family-friendly event!

Join us and tell REI to stop polluting drinking water, people, wildlife, and the planet for outdoor gear! It’s time they tell PFAS to take a hike!

If you can attend, please RSVP here.

To learn more, visit: https://toxicfreefuture.org/key-issues/mind-the-store/rei-ban-pfas/