When most people think of vinyl, they probably think fondly of their old vinyl LP records. But the truth about vinyl, often referred to as the "poison plastic", is less romantic.
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as "PVC" or "vinyl," is one of the most common synthetic materials. PVC is a versatile resin and appears in thousands of different formulations and configurations. Approximately 75% of all PVC manufactured is used in construction materials. It creeps into all sorts of unlikely building products.
PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing great environmental and health hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal.
The Vinyl Institute has spent millions hoping to persuade you otherwise. Regardless of the dissenting opinions, one has to wonder why any material would need such a large lobby to sell people on the idea. If vinyl really was as green as the Vinyl Institute wants us to believe, it would not require such a campaign.
They even have a propaganda Web site extolling the virtues of vinyl. It took some digging to find this pro-environment site is actually produced and maintained by the Vinyl Institute.
Groups like the Vinyl Institute are threatening to tie the U.S. Green Building Council in a stranglehold of litigation. They are even going so far as to form their own green building association, one whose rating system is more favorable to their products.
For more information, I recommend the insightful and often funny look at vinyl in the award-winning documentary Blue Vinyl. You can even rent it on Netflix.
The future will hopefully reveal vinyl to be the asbestos of the 21st Century.
Answer excerpted from Eric Corey Freed's column, Ask the Green Architect on greenerbuildings.com.
Image Pawel Pietrzyca, sxc.hu
the problem with the USGBC
the problem with the USGBC is that it's made up of 8,500 vested interests in the building industry, so no matter how altruistic it's stated goals and mission, it's product (the LEED standard) is subject to lobbying and corruption by members whose bottom line may be treatened by any new change in the standard. In the case of the USGBC we have 8,500 foxes in the henhouse. USGBC's recent decision regarding vinyl is a case in point. The new LEED standard under consideration was whether to award a point to buildings that contained NO vinyl or PVC content.
Uh, I guess you must be from
Uh, I guess you must be from the vinyl industry.
Vinyl
Amazing, how one can go merrily along recycling, composting, saving rain water & feeling smug. I have been using PVC pipe for various purposes in the garden, and most recently as the poles for flying my new line of garden banners. Who knew? Not me! I will immediately switch to wooden poles, even though I will miss all of those handy little connecter gizmos for making right angles, etc. Thanks for cluing us in. Your site is great. I am sure more life-changing revelations are in store
Vinyl Article
I was surprised to read this statement:
"PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing great environmental and health hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal." With no supporting information
This statement is full of hyperbole and low on factual information. A well written article would give support to there claim and provide the applicant alternatives, since it was important enough to write an article about. I would like to see better written articles on any website I frequent.
How Green is LEED for Homes and the Green Building Council?
The U.S. Green Building Council has made a significant contribution to sustainable design by creating a useful standard or scorecard for what is green. However, the problem with the USGBC is that it's made up of 8,500 vested interests in the building industry, so no matter how altruistic it's stated goals and mission, it's product (the LEED standard) is subject to lobbying and corruption by members whose bottom line may be treatened by any new change in the standard. In the case of the USGBC we have 8,500 foxes in the henhouse. USGBC's recent decision regarding vinyl is a case in point. The new LEED standard under consideration was whether to award a point to buildings that contained NO vinyl or PVC content. Although there was a wealth of information pointing to the environmental and health hazards of vinyl, in a classic clash between science, vested interests, money, and politics, the USGBC chose not to implement the new standard.
Asbestos redux
I grew up next door to a house with crumbling asbestos siding. I remember peeling at it with my fingers, and using broken off bits of it to build our backyard forts. I also remember my friend's mother breaking a thermometer and all of us kids gathering around to watch the mercury roll around in the palm of her hand!
I wonder how many of our marvelous modern materials will turn out to be toxic?
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. -New England proverb
Vinyl shower curtains
Interesting, related sidenote: Last night, I went shopping for a shower curtain liner at Target. Much to my surprise, most of the heavy duty liners were 100 percent PVC vinyl. I went home, hopped online and found this: "Target Uncovered: The Poison Plastic Lurking in Your Shopping Cart."
Scary stuff. Luckily, they stock a fabric alternative, which is what I ended up nabbing!