PVC and the PVC and the

EnvironmentEnvironment

Is PVC Good or Bad Is PVC Good or Bad

for the for the

Environment?Environment?With growing awareness for With growing awareness for the environment, the issue the environment, the issue of whether or not vinyl/PVC of whether or not vinyl/PVC

products are helpful or products are helpful or harmful has come to be harmful has come to be

questioned.questioned.

Is PVC Good or Bad Is PVC Good or Bad

for the for the

Environment?Environment?Over the past 20 years, Over the past 20 years, dozens of life cycle studies dozens of life cycle studies have been performed on have been performed on

PVC to see how PVC to see how manufacturing and using manufacturing and using vinyl products affects our vinyl products affects our

environment.environment.

Is PVC Good or Bad Is PVC Good or Bad

for the for the

Environment?Environment?The short answer is that vinyl The short answer is that vinyl products have a positive products have a positive

effect on our environment - effect on our environment - there are at least there are at least fivefive

specific ways that using specific ways that using PVC is beneficial to nature.PVC is beneficial to nature.

Requires Less Resources To Requires Less Resources To

ManufactureManufacture

Saves energy-Saves energy- By requiring By requiring less energy to manufacture, less energy to manufacture, PVC helps reduce energy PVC helps reduce energy

usage and CO2 emissions. usage and CO2 emissions. Manufacturing vinyl products Manufacturing vinyl products

requires 20% less energy requires 20% less energy than other plastics.than other plastics.

Requires Less Resources To Requires Less Resources To

ManufactureManufacturePVC products also help conserve energy when PVC products also help conserve energy when

they are used. Here are several examples:they are used. Here are several examples: ENERGY STAR PVC roofing membranes reflect ENERGY STAR PVC roofing membranes reflect

solar energy to reduce cooling costssolar energy to reduce cooling costs ENERGY STAR vinyl window frames conserve ENERGY STAR vinyl window frames conserve

energy, reducing both heating and cooling costsenergy, reducing both heating and cooling costs PVC pipe requires less energy to pump waterPVC pipe requires less energy to pump water

Requires Less Resources To Requires Less Resources To

ManufactureManufactureConserves resources-Conserves resources- Using Using

PVC products conserves limited PVC products conserves limited fossil fuels, since the principle fossil fuels, since the principle raw material vinyl is made from raw material vinyl is made from is salt. Nearly 60% of the raw is salt. Nearly 60% of the raw materials used to create the materials used to create the final is chlorine, derived from final is chlorine, derived from

salt.salt.

Durability Benefits The Durability Benefits The

PlanetPlanet

Longer lifespan -Longer lifespan - since vinyl since vinyl products have such a long products have such a long

life span, fewer life span, fewer replacements are needed, replacements are needed,

which translates to reduced which translates to reduced usage of resources.usage of resources.

Durability Benefits The Durability Benefits The

PlanetPlanetFewer chemicals -Fewer chemicals - since vinyl since vinyl products are highly durable this products are highly durable this

reduces the need for toxic reduces the need for toxic chemicals such as cleaners or chemicals such as cleaners or

paints.paints.

Vinyl Recycling Helps Reduce Vinyl Recycling Helps Reduce WasteWaste

More than one billion pounds of PVC More than one billion pounds of PVC products are recycled every year. products are recycled every year. Many carpet, roofing, and building Many carpet, roofing, and building supply manufacturers have highly supply manufacturers have highly

successful vinyl recycling programs.successful vinyl recycling programs.

PVC Conserves Water PVC Conserves Water

Did you know that over 2.3 trillion gallons of Did you know that over 2.3 trillion gallons of treated water are lost every year (just in treated water are lost every year (just in the USA) because of leaks from older, the USA) because of leaks from older,

corroded pipes? That's right!corroded pipes? That's right!

Using PVC pipes can cut this waste to Using PVC pipes can cut this waste to nearly nothing, because PVC pipes never nearly nothing, because PVC pipes never corrode, and they have among the lowest corrode, and they have among the lowest

leak rates of any type of pipe.leak rates of any type of pipe.

PVC and the PVC and the

EnvironmentEnvironment