By Kim Bo-eun
The boycott against Oxy Reckitt Benckiser products is spreading across the nation rapidly, dealing a severe blow to the British consumer goods maker.
A number of civic groups are leading the “Oxy Out” campaign, as the humidifier disinfectant scandal has become a national issue big enough to influence politicians to initiate a parliamentary audit of the tragedy.
Prosecutors are questioning former and sitting executives of the company amid allegations that its disinfectant product is responsible for most of the 146 deaths from lung damage caused by various disinfectant products offered by several companies.
In addition to civic groups, retailers have started joining the campaign, adding further pressure to the company.
According to data from the country’s major discount stores, total sales of Oxy’s dehumidifying products from April 18 to May 1 plummeted 53 percent from the same period a year ago. Sales of Oxy’s bleach products fell 38 percent.
Environmental civic groups in Incheon, Busan and other major cities and provinces have begun anti-Oxy campaigns.
“There will be more victims of the toxic humidifier sterilizer products. We have joined the boycott to fight the corporate murderer and the government’s neglect of duty,” a statement issued by the groups said.
The campaign is also gaining momentum on the Internet. Typing “Oxy boycott” into search engines yields numerous results, uploaded by consumers who are sharing information on products under the Oxy brand and also on available substitutes.
“We must spread the boycott until Oxy is kicked out of the country,” one post read. “Since we are so familiar with Oxy’s products, it may be inconvenient at first to stop buying them, but there are many substitutes.”
The company sold the toxic humidifier disinfectant from the early 2000s to 2011, when the scandal broke out amid claims that the product caused lung damage and deaths.
Consumers are angry over Oxy’s alleged attempt to cover up studies on the disinfectant’s toxicity and muffle consumer complaints.
“As a society develops, consumers expect higher ethical standards from companies. Ethical companies must thrive, and corporations must fear the voice of consumers,” another post said.
“Everyone responsible for the scandal must be identified and punished. The boycott of Oxy products should not only take place here _ it should be a global movement.”
Meanwhile, environmentalist groups demanded Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu be dismissed, saying he does not acknowledge his and the government’s culpability in the humidifier disinfectant scandal.
“To the criticism that the government was derelict in its duty for the scandal, Yoon said he does not agree,” the groups said in a press conference in front of the Government Complex Seoul, Friday.
They criticized the ministry’s inconsistency over the past five years in dealing with the incident.
“Because of such inaction by the government, Oxy and other makers have gained time to fabricate or cover up the accidents,” they said.