Environmental issues of PVC[de] 

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a synthetic polymer material (or resin). Pure PVC is a rigid material, which is mechanically tough, fairly good weather resistant, water and chemicals resistant, electrically insulating, but relatively unstable to heat and light. The unstability can be avoided through the addition of stabilisers. Stabilisers are often composed of salts of metals like lead, barium, calcium or cadmium, or organotin compounds.

The mechanical properties of PVC can be modified through the addition of low molecular weight compounds that mix with the polymer matrix. Addition of these so called plasticisers in various amounts generates materials with an important versatility of properties that has lead to the use of PVC in a vast range of applications. The main types of plasticisers used are esters of organic acids, mainly phthalates and adipates.

The Green paper identifies two main issues

• use and risks to human health and the environment of certain additives in PVC such as lead, cadmium and phthalates and the waste management of PVC;
• problems raised by the landfilling, incineration and recycling of PVC waste.

Main Policy Options

• mandatory legislative measures, such as a proposal for a directive on PVC, or a mix of instruments such as the adaptation of existing directives, or recommendations to Member States;
• strengthening the existing voluntary agreements with industry

The PVC industry is very worried about a p otential ban of PVC. It has therefore started in March 2000 a voluntary 10-year programme to reduce PVC waste and achieve a sustainable future for its products. The European PVC producers challenged the Commission's Green paper as un "unsatisfactory review of the PVC lifecycle". They state that it could have a serious impact on employment and competitiveness of the European PVC industry.

On the other hand, environmental movement Greenpeace welcomed the Commission's Green Paper and repeated its demand for an immediate ban on PVC waste incineration and complete substitution of PVC material.

On 3 April 2001, the European Parliament urged the Commission to apply stricter rules to the use of PVC products.

DG Environment and DG Enterprise are still in the process of discussing a follow-up Communication to the Green Paper. This Communication was already expected for 2002, but got delayed because of major differences of opinion between the Commission's services on the following issues:

• the degree of recycling of PVC;
• the phase out of heavy metals (cadmium and lead);
• the use of phthalates;
• the right instruments to be used: regulation versus voluntary agreements.