Housing sector seeks alternatives to PVC, despite official LCA

Housing sector seeks alternatives to PVC, despite official LCA - 2001 - ENDS Report 318 July 2001, 28-29(2) .

PVC is becoming increasingly unpopular as more councils and housing associations are now seeking to switch to timber frames, although some are finding it to expensive to make the switch. A life cycle assessment of PVC by the government showed there was little to choose from between PVC and alternative materials but a seminar on PVC revealed that people were more concerned over the toxicity of PVC additives and by-products. At present there is very little recycling of PVC products but this may change as the industry is under pressure to improve its environmental performance and a strategy on polymers by the EC emphasises recycling. In future PVC products may be labelled to make recycling easier.


PVC
ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
HOUSING SECTOR
RECYCLING