Day 060 - 02 Dec 94 - Page 28


     
     1        says:  "It is highly flammable, a potential health threat
     2        to workers.  It also oxydises quickly in sunlight helping
     3        to cause smogs".  Is that something you are aware of?
     4        A.  As I mentioned yesterday morning, when I asked Lin Pac
     5        to revert to Pentane as a blowing agent, they told me the
     6        material is much more flammable than the current material
     7        they have been using, and that was one of the reasons they
     8        did not want to change.
     9
    10   Q.   Right.  Are you aware of the concerns about causing smogs?
    11        A.  I am not, no.
    12
    13   Q.   You are not aware of that?
    14        A.  No.  That was never mentioned to me as a concern.
    15
    16   Q.   Would it cause you to ask Lin Pac to stop using Pentane, to
    17        stop using blowing foam if it were true, if you found out
    18        it were true?
    19        A.  It may do; it may depend on a degree and whether this
    20        was proved or not.  This is the first time I have seen that
    21        written.  I think, as I also said yesterday, it may speed
    22        us into the next generation of blowing agents, which we are
    23        already well down the line on.
    24
    25   Q.   There are some countries where you do not use polystyrene
    26        foam at all, are there not?
    27        A.  Yes.
    28
    29   Q.   So, is there any reason why you cannot do that in this
    30        country?
    31        A.  No.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  It is also possible to make polystyrene without
    34        using blowing -- sorry, to use plastic packaging without
    35        using blowing agents, is it not?  In some countries
    36        McDonald's actually use non-blown polystyrene; is that
    37        correct?
    38        A.  It is not possible to make non-blown polystyrene, no.
    39
    40   Q.   Sorry, non-blown plastic packaging?
    41        A.  Non-blown plastic packaging, yes, but not polystyrene.
    42
    43   Q.   It escapes my mind.  There is one country that has been
    44        specifically mentioned in McDonald's document that did not
    45        use any blowing agents?
    46        A.  But that is not polystyrene.
    47
    48   Q.   Which country is that, do you know?
    49        A.  I do not know, but it would not be polystyrene because
    50        you have to use a blowing agent for that. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think we are going around in circles a 
    53        little now because, obviously, you can use something other
    54        than polystyrene for better or worse.  Mr. Oakley gave the
    55        reasons why that has not proved attractive to McDonald's in
    56        this country.
    57
    58   MS. STEEL:  Mr. Oakley, going back onto the subject of CFCs.
    59        You either were not aware or you were not bothered about
    60        the environmental effects of using CFCs in your packaging,

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