Greenpeace uPVC crisis
Pipes
Rainwater guttering and drainpipes, Water supply pipes, Sewerage and drainage pipes, protective pipes for cables. Approximately 90% of PVC pipes produced are waste pipes, protective pipes for electricity and telecommunications cable and drainage pipes underground. The rest are found in buildings in the form of waste pipes or as mains pipes. Pipes are made of rigid PVC (or unplasticised PVC - uPVC). Lead or tin stabilisers are often used in pipes, and red-brown pipes contain lead pigments. Alternatives: PVC-Free Pipes and Ducts. For companies which are using alternatives to PVC see PVC Restrictions Report- water supply companies
In parallel, with increasing numbers of local authorities going PVC free, many new buildings were built with minimal use of PVC (for example avoiding PVC windows, doors, pipes, floorings, and cabling). The highest profile of these projects is the Sydney 2000 Olympics, which has avoided the use of PVC wherever possible, as well as incorporating many other environmental objectives such as the use of renewable energy.
PVC-Free Pipes and Ducts
One of the largest uses of unplasticised PVC (known as u-PVC) is in rigid pipes for above ground and underground drainage, electrical cables and gas pipes.
For underground sewage or water pipes vitrified clay pipes are suitable and are very durable. The expected service life of a clay pipe is commonly given as 100 years. Clay pipes also have a high resistance to chemicals in waste water. Alternative materials to PVC in sewage pipes may perform better over time: the city of Nyborg in Denmark reported that the PVC main sewage pipe had become extremely brittle and required frequent replacement. In the UK, Anglian Water specifies polyethylene or ductile iron pipes in their mains renovation programme. Neither do they allow developers to use PVC pipe in new sewage schemes for engineering reasons.
European Parliament votes for Subsitution of PVC Plastic
3 April 2001
Greenpeace welcomed today's vote by the European Parliament in favour of the substitution of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) plastic because of concern over its hazardous properties.
"The European Parliament has recognised the dangers associated with PVC production, use and disposal and voted in the interests of the environment and public health. This is an important step towards effective action against the many hazards of PVC plastic and the use of safer materials. Evidence that PVC harms the environment and human health is overwhelming and, as today's vote reflects, there is now only one way forward: PVC has got to go," said Greenpeace campaigner, Maureen Penjueli.
The European Parliament voted in favour of introducing a substitution policy, starting with the replacing of soft PVC, used to make children's toys and medical devices, amongst other products. Soft PVC contains phthalates, which are toxic and can leach from the product. Phthalates have been linked to damage to the kidneys, liver and testicles in animal experiments.
The vote also called for the banning of lead additives in PVC, and for compulsory marking of PVC products and separate collection of PVC waste. Moreover, the Parliament accepted that incineration and landfill are unsustainable options for the disposal of PVC and voted for hard PVC waste to be diverted from incineration. Combustion of PVC leads to hazardous emissions in the atmosphere, such as dioxin, and produces toxic ash that has to be landfilled.
Since the EU Commission's Green Paper on PVC was released last year, criticism of PVC has been voiced at every step, including the Public Consultation hearing, and the vote of the EU Parliament Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. This confirms what environmentalists, health groups and consumer groups have been saying for several years - that PVC has got to go.
"Concern over the hazards of PVC plastic is widespread. Local communities, health groups, consumer groups and industry have all been calling on the EU to phase out this dangerous plastic, “said Penjueli.”It's heartening that finally their concerns have been validated and their voices heard. Now vital that the European Commission proposes a Directive to act on today's decisions," she added.
Unique Greenpeace PVC-free Database Launched
25 April 2001
Greenpeace today launched a unique international database, which finally offers a real choice for the construction industry between PVC products and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The online, easily searchable database features over hundreds of products from over 200 companies around the world. The database of suppliers of PVC alternatives shows that for most, if not all, uses of PVC in construction, there are readily available alternatives supplied by a range of companies. It gives everyone from do it yourself enthusiasts right through to major construction companies the chance to make a difference in the environment they are creating.
Globally, over 50% of PVC manufactured is used in construction, in products such as pipes, wiring, siding, flooring and wallpaper. As a building material PVC is cheap, easy to install and is fast replacing traditional materials such as wood, concrete and clay in many uses, but it has high environmental and human health costs, costs the consumers are all to often unaware of when they buy.
From its manufacture to its final disposal, PVC emits toxic compounds. During the manufacture of the building blocks of PVC, dioxin and other persistent organic pollutants are emitted into the air, water and land. During use, PVC products can leach toxic additives; flooring for example releases phthalates. When disposed of in landfills hazardous substances are released such phthalates and heavy metals. When PVC is incinerated or burns in accidental fires hydrogen chloride gas and dioxins are formed.
But there are alternatives. The Sydney 2000 Olympic Committee ensured the stadium seating and plumbing was completely PVC free, while the multi-use arena had no PVC in the seating, cabling, floor coverings, wall finishes or plumbing.
http://www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/pvcdatabase/productalt.html#p