PVC and sustainability

PVC has been under intense and hostile attack for a number of years, primarily because of its association with chlorine chemistry. It has been argued by some that because of this association it is inherently unsustainable, although much of this argument has been emotionally driven rather than based upon scientific scrutiny. Yet the presence of chlorine imparts a range of unique technical features in PVC that set it apart from many other polymers. A number of these features are well known and documented, and perhaps this uniqueness makes it a fascinating polymer to study in terms of its potential for sustainability. It is durable in use and difficult to break down. This persistence has made it a target by some campaigners, yet this could arguably be one of its greatest strengths from a sustainability perspective. The following report assesses—on a scientific basis—what sustainability means to the PVC industry and the necessary steps that would be needed to deliver a truly sustainable polymer. The evaluation model presented is based on The Natural Step (TNS) framework. The TNS framework is a robust and science-based set of tools that define sustainability in unambiguous and workable terms and helps organisations engage with the practicalities of sustainable development. In particular, the study includes a case history of a sustainable development process leading up to this evaluation involving a number of leading UK retailers.