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PVC - An Assessment

A Growth Industry

 The PVC industry is a growth industry worldwide.  One has only to look at Germany where it is the No.1 Growth Industry.    
 

Advantages of PVC
It is a material particularly suited to a variety of products:  pipes, windows, floor coverings and cables as well as having a growing number of applications in the field of medicine.  It is low in its use of resources.  Its production costs are moderate.  It has low maintenance requirements.  There is also steady progress in extending the product-range and in upgrading recycling facilities.
Issues Addressed

In response to criticism of PVC, various studies have been conducted, most notably by the European Commission, which led up to the presentation of a Green Paper in July 2000.  This Green Paper attracted 33,000 statements of response.  Over 98% of these were positive.  Accordingly in April 2001, the European Parliament voted on the Green Paper report and its suggested amendments.

  In this vote, the E.U. Parliament:

  1. rejected demands for the withdrawal of PVC and soft PVC
  2. rejected demands to classify PVC products as unsustainable
  3. called for reinforcing recycling processes

Parallel with this development in the E.U. Parliament, the European PVC Industry in March 2000, adopted the "Voluntary Commitment of the PVC industry on sustainable development", with its stated goals to cover all stages of a PVC product from resource efficiency to responsible manufacture to recovery and disposal.

Conclusions
  1. PVC makes highly efficient and economic use of resources it has both a long life and low maintenance costs.
  2. Its low weight makes it more economical to package and transport.
  3. It is a product that has great scope for further innovation and further development of products.
  4. IN comparison with other products, such as those made from steel, glass and paper, PVC performs well.

In a word PVC is an eco-efficient material that offers advantages over its entire lifestyle, if controlled responsibly.  Evaluations published to date reject phasing out PVC, which recommending ecological improvement.