Facts About PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer of vinyl chloride. Vinyl, which was developed by scientists in the 1920s, is composed of chlorine, based on common salt and ethylene (from natural gas). PVC resin is hard, but with the addition of plasticizers, a flexible, elastic plastic material is made.

Uses

PVC is used extensively within the construction industry for the following products:

• Pipes and fittings
• Siding
• Windows
• Flooring
• Fencing
• Decking
• Roofing
• Wall coverings
• Wire and cable products

PVC is also used for:

• Transport and packaging materials
• Medical supplies
• Consumer products (such as credit cards and toys)

Benefits

PVC is widely used because it is versatile, pliable, durable and easy to clean. Additionally, PVC is considered thermally insulating and energy efficient. Particularly, PVC requires less energy to produce than many other products of comparable use, and PVC requires 20 percent less energy to produce than other plastics. It is also thought to save on fossil fuel use, as its principal raw material (nearly 60 percent) is chlorine derived from common salt. And, PVC building products are generally considered to be highly energy-efficient. For example, roofing membranes made of PVC help reflect solar energy, vinyl window frames help conserve energy and PVC pipe requires less energy to pump water.

Concerns

Concerns associated with PVC include the fact that it is not commonly recycled or recyclable, nor is it biodegradable. However, concerns mainly focus on the generation of persistent pollutants and toxic additives used to produce PVC products. These additives include:

• Dioxin: During the production of PVC, dioxin, a toxic chemical, is created and released. Further, at the end of its lifetime, PVC must be either burned or buried. Buried PVC may leak dioxin, and burning PVC releases dioxins and hydrochloric acid into the air, which contributes to acid rain that can contaminate land and water. Dioxins are extremely long-lived in the environment, and, because they are fat-soluble, they concentrate in the tissues of humans and others species.

• Phthalates: Phthalates are additives widely used in the production of PVC to make it soft and flexible. Concern over the use of phthalates as an additive has been raised in recent years due to concerns that phthalates have been associated with an increased risk of cancer and kidney and liver damage. As well, these chemicals are thought to interfere with the reproductive system and development. The use of PVC with phthalate additives in toys has received more notable attention within both the medical and environmental communities in recent years.

Recycling

PVC is considered a difficult and expensive material to recycle. For this reason, much of it ends up in landfills where, over time, its harmful additives can leak. Further, plastics, including PVC, contribute to the volume of non-organic materials in landfills that do not easily decompose.