PVC Alternatives

This topic is not limited to manufacturers but should also concern architects, engineers, developers and those involved in the building industry. Yours truly has been involved in specifying PVC products, hopefully in time, will do my part to decrease its use to lessen the load on Mother Nature. I am not sure or even aware if other Filipino advocators for Green Architecture know of this since some focus on building envelope design and waste management.

The full text can be downloaded here. The keypoints of the article is listed as follows:

Why is PVC a problem?

The manufacture, use, and disposal of PVC poses substantial and unique environmental and human health hazards due to the formation and release of hazardous organochlorine by-products. During the manufacture of PVC, dioxin and other persistent pollutants are created as by-products. During use, PVC products can leach potentially harmful additives like phthalate plasticizers and lead or other heavy metal stabilizers. Dioxins and other by-products are emitted when PVC is burned during incineration or in accidental fires in buildings, warehouses, or landfills. Because no significant markets exist for the recycling of PVC, the material will typically be landfilled, where additives can leach out.

How is PVC used in buildings?

Approximately 75% of all PVC produced is for building products. Piping, vinyl siding, and vinyl flooring are the largest and most familiar uses of PVC. Roof membranes are another growing area. PVC is also used in electrical wire, conduit, carpet backing, windows, door frames, wall coverings, siding, furniture, shutters and blinds, gutters, downspouts, waterstops, flashing, moldings, and elsewhere.

The alternatives to PVC in building materials?

PVC has replaced many “traditional” building materials such as wood, concrete and clay in many areas. For almost all PVC applications, more environmentally friendly alternatives exist that use more sustainable, traditional, local materials.

PVC can also be replaced by a variety of other, less environmentally damaging plastics, such as polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and bio-based plastics.

Bio-based plastics can be made out of products obtained from natural living raw materials such as starch, cellulose (from wood or cotton), horn (hardened protein) and raw rubber. The advantage of bio-polymers is that they readily degrade and can be composted. Converted natural polymers include vulcanized rubber, vulcanized fiber, celluloid and casein protein.