By Michele Chandler

Popular discounter Target is still dueling with some environmental groups because of the retail chain's use of polyvinyl chloride - also called PVC - in some of its products and packaging.

While Wal-Mart announced last year that it would phase out PVC in its private label packaging by 2009, Target has not taken aggressive enough steps to rid its shelves of products containing the substance, according to the New York-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice.

Other big chains and product manufacturers, including Ikea, Mattel and Johnson & Johnson, have ended or reduced their use of PVC-containing products or packaging, which environmentalists say have been linked to dangerous additives.

Representatives from a coalition of groups that last fall launched an effort to coax Target to change its practices are scheduled to attend the retailer's annual shareholders meeting in Cleveland on Thursday. They'll present Target CEO Robert Ulrich with 10,000 signatures from consumers who want the company to phase out its PVC use.

In a statement, Target said the environmental group was "grossly misrepresenting" its efforts to reduce PVC use. Target said it has asked its vendors to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging DVDs and hair accessories.

"To date, we have not established a firm timeline for elimination of PVC because we have not identified suitable alternative materials that are available for use in mass-production," the company's statement said.

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