Breast Cancer Action uses the term “pinkwashers” to refer to companies that say they care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon campaign, but manufacture products that may be contributing to the epidemic. For example, Ford, Mercedes, and BMW urge consumers to buy and drive cars in the name of breast cancer, yet car exhaust contains toxic chemicals that are linked to the disease. In order to prevent future generations of women from getting this disease, we believe these car companies have a responsibility to clean up their cars.

What Car Companies Can Do

Tell the car companies you want to see clean cars, not pinkwashed ones.

What YOU Can Do

Cleaner cars on the roads will make a huge difference, but as individuals, we must also do our part to help reduce everybody's exposure to toxic chemicals in car exhaust.

• Use mass transit when available or work to improve mass transit in your area
  • Public Transportation Maps
  • Sierra Club Zoomer (Enter your zip code for a list of transit providers.)
  • Hop Stop (transit guide for NY Metro Area, Washington DC, Boston, and San Francisco)
• If possible, telecommute
• Carpool when you can
  • Many workplaces and cities have pre-established carpooling programs
  • iCarpool (helps find carpool matches)
• Car share for necessary trips, instead of buying your own car
  • Zip Car
  • Flex Car
• Walk or bike if you can
  • League of American Bicyclists
  • Thunderhead Alliance
  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
  • America Walks
• Buy a cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicle next time you are ready to buy a new car.
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Green Vehicle Guide
  • Union of Concerned Scientists, Automaker Rankings 2007
  • The Ecology Center, Healthy Cars Guide
• Reduce the number of trips you take by trying to run all your errands together or on the way to or from work.
• Fuel your car after dark or when it is cooler. Less fumes are released from the gasoline then.
• To avoid spilling fuel, do not top off the tank.
• Drive smoothly—rough stop and go is less fuel efficient and leads to more combustion.
• Keep your car well-maintained and tires properly inflated
• Don't idle—if you're stopping for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic) you should just turn off the car.
• Tell your elected officials you support laws calling for cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles

Take Action Archive (Think Before You Pink actions from previous years)