PVC is already helping Europe to develop sustainability.

The environmental impact of PVC products has been investigated in numerous studies, quantified in many life cycle analyses (LCA) and compared many times to products made from alternative materials. The most comprehensive study was a review commissioned by the EU. It showed PVC products to be comparable to alternatives in their environmental impact.

Eco-profiles also form a part of a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). Whereas LCAs are cradle-to-grave analyses of the environmental impact of a product, eco-profiles stop at the factory gate (‘Cradle-to-gate'). The eco-profiles of PVC were fully updated in 2006. They can be downloaded here.

Environmental Declarations are helpful to downstream users and stakeholders in that they provide a useful and verified resource for studies and research. Environmental Declarations for PVC were also realised in 2008 by ECVM and PlasticsEurope.

EPD-S 2008
EPD-E 2008

Several PVC applications such as pipes, window profiles, cables, flooring, membranes and films have been analysed in terms of eco-efficiency and LCAs in several European countries. In these analyses, PVC shows excellent environmental performance.

In 2009, PVC pipes with Ca/Zn stabilisers were classified ‘ecologically interesting' by the Swiss body Eco-devis, the same classification assigned by Eco-devis to PVC windows profiles in 2007.

In the UK, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) assigned the A+ classification for commercial PVC-U windows and A classification for domestic PVC-U windows in its 2008 ‘Green Guide to Specification', following the A classification for PVC flooring already obtained in 2007 from BRE.

We believe, however, that our contribution must go further. Thus, we are constantly striving to improve production processes and products, to invest in technology, to minimise emissions and waste, and to boost collection and recycling.

To learn more, also visit www.pvc.org.