Document rBvkLZzVXzELqwoQNVqbkLRxv

We're Glad You Asked. Answers to the most commonly asked questions about vinyl We're Glad You Asked . . . The Vinyl Institute M) 15 a trade associalion of ihe natron's leading manufacturers of vinyl jpolywiyl cNortde or PVCJ, vinyl feedstocks and additives and film and sheet products The VI was formed in 198? to prmnai^ and p'otecl the mdustry and its many markets The VI sponsors soentif'C research 10 confirm the safe performance of vinyl products and monitors regulatory activity affecting the industry Marketing prcyams promonng the use ol vinyl are a key VI function What is Vinyl? Vinyl is composed of two simple bu 'dir-g o'O'-ts chlonne derived from common salt ano ethylene, `'cm cude oil The resulting compound ethylene d chfonde is converted at very high temperatures to vinyl chloride monomer IVCM} gas Through the chemical -eachon known as poU mentation, VCM becomes a cnemiealiv me'' powder polv-u'--rl chlonde resin Vinyl's Performance Properties Because PVC resin can be combined with a mull tude of additives and modifiers ,mvl is a prnrfuci wHi nfed to a variety Of needs and indus lues Vmyf is often selecled over otfier nvnenals ri" mise of =ts low cost, versatility and performance properties Vmyhs strong durable aorasion and mois* j'e-resistanl. impervious to ruS! and corrosion, elnc'ncai'v non conductive, and ignition-resistant Vmyf can be produced m almost any cclo` wrh umd m^ 1 ranging Jrcm opaque tc crystal-clear Through a variety o^ extrusion calendering and molding processes, vinyl is used m products as rig-d as pipe o as flexible as upholstery ard food wrap Vinyl's Uses Vmyl ts the world s secor d largest-selling plastic -m,,i a'n rune billion pounds sold m the U S alone m 1990 Vinyl has many uses rn construction, including water p'pe house sidmg gutters and downspouts flooMile prectr cal and cab'G insulation window treatment and wa'I omer m Flex ble viryl film is a leading packaging material lor wraui meats and produce and for Samper proo'mg over-'he coc med cahcr's and food products Vinyl cotifes store ever ,h from peanut butler and cooking oil to shampoo ard l-gf tr Vinyl is used in parts for appliances and automohies. m fit optics and electronics as well as consumer and inshiubcr goods like shower cur'ams window shades h',sr- foatwear credn cards and automob le parts In the field of medicine. vinyl meels Ihe exactmq s tarda1 c mqumdfoi Ij^icjs Imarl ca'neiers medical 1 ih ''o -ir surgical g cues Vinyl and the Solid Waste Stream Currently, 'ess lhau 3 half percent of the municipal wasm ?1 ream by weight is composed of vmyl Lrder r^ncc' I CO1 ij . ussnr i_cr.jnors it represents only 1 25% Dv volume 11 c if an 5'. of all d scarded plastic packaging is vinyl boitles bli^n ' |\ii Lig.ng or hex ble film Vinyl and Recycling Fvi'p (jfto'd useful Mespan of decaoes vinyl products can be recycled .nic ne/v applications lasting decades more A ij, ism r, rcciorr' of vinyl recyclers is available from the Vmvf hii.M.'lf' A; ill.' nj ibTi.i' Ic-1.el a sgnficani arnouni of vinyl scrap -- c^ i .ri j hum iK-lymer manufacturers and plastic processors -- is i Jk\ led dnrj recycled S' ii. is Vdrvy 'S post-ccnsjme1' vny recycling While Ir < iron im n mn of one percent of art post-consumer vi iyl r i, ,r Ir.J -tr u jr million pen,'"ids -- 'hal amount iS } - 1 ! /,: . di'ji I..U j.,ij aopi.cai.crs .soda ion us C .J miIf jysl i < cm- ucvJe lutes for vu'iv are con-p^tut 'e with tt'ose P i . ,ui si vred h.ghly recyclable ii. , ij ................ . recvi i.roj is g md I.l9tf9 the ii.. Ii". 'i-. estimator! demand lor . r;u. -n vinyl ai hiti nii j'uis - about twice if e cl m.-m oolennal s jppiy -1 i 11. >|i .1 vv vanning equ pmi'nr sur n :iS mat rh velooed ti ,'i i'h in. ii H .'v'lyTr- 'm Jogm1 i.-i'i riov, ,r ;,;irnV /inv . i i. .i mi ,j' ,m i V in.hr,' Vinyl's Recycled Uses The University of Toledo study identified nearly 100 potential uses lor recycled post consumer PVC Some ol the leading products to date are bodies floor mats blear her covers, flower pot covers and irrigation pipe Vinyl and the Environment * Conservation of natural resources Vinyl is less dependent on petrochemicals than any other plastic m use Only 43% of vinyl's raw material comes from crude oil A recent studv hy the Wust German Society tor Packaging Research found tl.ai displacing vinyl packaging would increase the total weight of packaging by 10% and the energy needed io produce alternatives by al least 40%. Incineration. Vinyl can be -..i" n u u ruled m a si >h. ol if e-art facility according to a study by l '.e New York Slate Energy Research and Development Authoniy at a full-scale incinerator Vinyl incinera''On is not responsible lor ar increase m dioxin emissiors Operatirg , i_.n Ii iui s sc '.cuiarly birr ler-ipeiatures, rather man tne compcsc ur of ihe garbage bun eu most influence jhe level of enusS'Ors innneratois i.r. perg u jm| .pud .vm. p- lh.nun scrubbers will uLsriove u/< i d i .. uf .iud gases pn .d n.i-d including hyd'eyr n . I.......Jr When recycling vinyl is not leasibie, its high energy value, which is midway between that of wood and coal, can be recovered via incineration and convened to steam or electricity Landfilling. Where neither recycling nor incineration of the vinyl prodiid is practical, vinyl can be safely landfilled Vinyl products are chemically men and stable, and do not leach contaminants into groondwaier In fact, landfill liners are often made ol vinyi Chlorine. Vinyl won't harm the atmosphere Once chlorine is processed mio PVC, free chlorine gas cannot be liberated from the product Vinyl products either metnerdfed or fandlilied do not release chlorine gas into the atmosphere There is no known connection between the depletion ol th* ozone layer and vinyl products Vinyl and Health Worker health nazards due to prolonged high exposure toVCM were discovered in the late 197G's but new manufacturing technology has resolved those problems. Vinyl production facilities are regulated by the Occupational Health and Sateiy Administration, and alt emissions are regulated by the U S Environmental Protection Agency and reported under stale and federal law i 6PZ0Srs?b R&S150250 Mmbrs Borden Chemicals and Plastics CertamTeed Corporation The Dow Chemical Company Georgia Gulf Corporation The RFGooanch uomnanv Occidental Chemical Corporation PPG Industries, me nW Resin Chmtech Inc Union Cairude Chemicals and Plastics Lnmoonv me Vista Chefmcai Company Associate Members European Vmyis Corporation Fxxon Chemical Canada Petroquimica Colombiana b A Affiliate Members AV/o Chemicals inr Atochem North Amenoa Exxon Chemical Company GE Soecuitv Chemical '.annka it-vis Con..nation '.Vnt'd lc'Puratipn Suoportinq Members American Vtmv-. v. .operation Mocl'ner ^enianiast ot Amenta, me v wti ntnorn R&S 150251