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.

"There is enormous enthusiasm and interest in PVC alternatives in the construction industry," said Maureen Penjueli of Greenpeace. "The PVC alternatives online database is feeding that enthusiasm with information on more environmentally sound materials," she added.

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.

Dioxin is a known human carcinogen, while some heavy metals can affect the nervous and reproductive systems even in low doses. Phthalates are also hazardous, with some known to be toxic in the reproductive systems in animals.

PVC has come under scrutiny by the European Commission since 1997 resulting in the release of the Green Paper in July 2000 that highlights the dangers associated with its disposal. The European Parliament has also recently called for caution over use of PVC in buildings with high fire risks.

There are currently over 150 million tonnes of long-life PVC materials in existence globally, mainly in the construction sector, which will build into a toxic waste mountain in coming decades.

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.

Greenpeace believes that PVC alternatives presented in the database represent progress towards protection of the global environment and human health, but recognises they are not completely impact-free. The alternative materials are tangible progress towards clean production, where toxic chemicals are avoided in the manufacture of the products.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Maureen Penjueli : +44 207 865 8246

To view the database and background information on PVC: http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/toxic_pvcdb.html

To view the database directly: http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/pvcdatabase/