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Housing sector seeks alternatives to PVC, despite official LCA

Series: ENDS Report ; 318 July 2001, 28-29(2)Publication details: 2001Subject(s): Summary: 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 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.