Towards A Sustainable Environment

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):

Towards a Sustainable Environment

Philippine Resins Industries, Inc. (PRII) A member of the Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines (APMP) July 25, 2008

What is PVC? ¾ PVC is polyvinyl chloride; it is

also commonly called vinyl ¾ White thermoplastic powder ¾ Highly inert and stable, electrically non-

conductive, flame-retardant, resistant to moisture, corrosion, and aggressive chemical environment

How is PVC Made? ¾ PVC is derived from 2 simple ingredients: 44%

Fossil Fuel Salt

Salt is a renewable resource from which chlorine is extracted

¾ Chemical formula: Æ

Ethylene

Chlorine

56%

(C H 2-C H ) Cl

n

How is PVC Made? Periodic Table of the Elements He

H

¾ Chlorine is a vital building block for many Li products ¾ Disinfects 95% of U.S. drinking water supply worldwide Pb ¾ Together with other chemicals, it form 85% of pharmaceuticals in the market ¾ The form of chlorine contained in PVC is very stable and chemically different from elemental chlorine ¾ Once processed into PVC, it is chemically bonded into the product; stable in products ¾ Gives PVC products excellent fire resistance

O

Ne Cl

Processes Involved in PVC Manufacturing

Products made out of PVC

Products made out of PVC ¾Due to PVC’s clarity, strength, ability to withstand

temperatures from –40 to 1210C and steriliasability, PVC is used for bags that store IV fluids, dialysis solutions and blood.

¾PVC meets a demanding

range of health and safety standards established by numerous agencies such as the US FDA, and Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Since PVC is inert and nontoxic.. ¾ Material of choice for

healthcare settings

¾ Surfaces do not harbor

pollutants or allergens

¾ PVC provides a higher,

safer standard of health care while holding down costs.

Products made out of PVC ¾PVC is the most widely used for water pipes to deliver clean, safe-to-drink water and sewer pipes to ensure integrity of wastewater handling systems. ¾PVC pipes offer superior durability, strength, and low cost. ¾It will not rust or corrode, and if installed properly, virtually needs no maintenance throughout the life of the system. ¾PVC pipes account for 62% and 71% of total plastic pipes in Europe (2003) and US (2004)

Products made out of PVC ¾Because

of its toughness and durability, PVC is the leading material for construction supplies such as sidings, window frames, doors and jambs, roofs, gutters, downspouts, cornices, fencing and other materials such as furniture.

Products made out of PVC ¾PVC’s

excellent flame-retardant properties and resistance to breakdown under high voltage makes it a dependable material for wire and cable insulation

¾Compared

to its common plastic alternatives, PVC performs better in terms of lower combustibility, flammability, flame propagation and heat release.

Products made out of PVC ¾As

a packaging material, PVC helps keep food safe and fresh during transportation and on store shelves and provides tamper-resistant packaging for food items, beverages and medicines.

PVC’s Environmental Performance ¾ PVC can replace several traditional materials such as wood, copper, iron, steel, concrete and aluminum ¾Consumes far fewer resources to produce as compared to many competitive materials, thus helping conserve natural resources ¾ Less dependent on non-renewable petroleum feedstocks (56% from salt)

¾ In recent years, many studies by internationally respected research institutes have compared the total environmental impact of PVC products with those produced from alternative materials. Window frames Research Institute: Switzerland Date of Report: Results:

EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Dübendorf, May 1996 Window frames - Eco-balance data relative to PVC [ ALUMINUM - STEEL - WOOD - PVC ]

CO2 - Greenhouse effect

Source : EVC

Ozone depletion effect

Human toxicity effect

Total energy effect

15

PVC’s Environmental Performance ¾Requires

only about 70% of energy required for production of other plastics, thus less CO2 emissions during its production process

Provides excellent life cycle benefits because of its energy efficiency, thermal insulating value, low CO2 emissions, easy maintenance and superior durability ¾

Pipe Systems Research Institute: EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, St. Gallen, Switzerland Date of Report: February 1998 Results: Piping systems - Eco-balance data relative to PVC Potable water systems [ Other plastics - PVC - Cast iron ]

Green house effect

Total energy effect

Sewage systems [ Other plastics - PVC - Stoneware ]

Green house effect

Total energy effect

Studies show that PVC has an overall environmental performance well within the range of alternative materials. 17

Energy Consumption of PVC Fabrication is Low 4.5 4

4.1 times as much energy

3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5

2.8 times as much energy 2 times as much energy 1.5 times as much energy 0.5 times as much energy

0 Concrete pressure pipe Aluminum window Cast iron drain/waste/vent pipe

Wood window Source: Linoleum floor tileFranklin Associates, 1991

It often takes more energy to make products out of alternatives to PVC

PVC is Thermally Efficient ¾ Vinyl roofs reflect at

least 65% of the sun’s rays reducing air conditioning demand by 14% ¾ U-value 0.3-0.5 for vinyl

windows vs. 1.0-2.2 for aluminum

PVC and the Environment PVC is predominantly used in long-term applications. Thus, represents only a small part (about 0.3%) of all domestic solid waste. Approximate Lifetime

Percentage of Total PVC Application

15 - 100 years

80%

Computer housing, Car parts, Furniture, etc.

2-15 years

10%

Medical packaging

< 2 years

10%

PVC Application Building materials such as window frames, water and drainage pipes, electrical cable insulation

Source : EVC

20

PVC is Highly Reusable and Recyclable ¾ Due to its thermoplastic nature (can be reheated and reprocessed over and over again), PVC is inherently recyclable ¾ Scrap PVC are being recycled into a variety of second generation products such as sewage pipes, floor tiles, hoses, boots, truck bed liners, linoleum, etc.

PVC Manufacturing Leads to Minimal Waste Waste ¾ Vinyl cuttings, scrap easily heated, reprocessed ¾ Manufacturing efficiency 99% Source: Principia Partners, 1999

¾PVC

Finished product

scrap and trim from molding and installing PVC products are commonly recovered and reused in the manufacturing process

PVC can be safely disposed ¾ Vinyl is inert and

would not react with the environment ¾ Vinyl is used to line landfills ¾ When incinerated, modern incinerators allow for very little dioxin emissions

PVC is Fire Retardant ¾ Does not support

combustion once heat is removed ¾ Inherently flame retardant due to its chlorine base ¾ Vinyl smoke is no more toxic than smoke from other building materials

National Fire Protection Association Headquarters Quincy, Massachusetts

PVC: The Life Saving Plastic PVC is safe, non-toxic and saves lives PVC is one of the most extensively studied/tested plastic material with a welldocumented record of safety; it has made critical products more durable, affordable and dependable; it is not toxic nor carcinogenic ¾ PVC has been helping save thousands/millions of lives around the world ¾ Today, about 35Mil MT of PVC is used worldwide and consumption growth continue to increase

PVC: The Life Saving Plastic ¾ PVC is used in medical products such as blood bags and medical tubing and in food-contact applications as meat wrap, bottles and can enamel, products regulated for safety by the U.S. FDA ¾ PVC is used in pipes certified to meet American National Standards Institute/National Sanitation Foundation Standard 61 for safe use in drinking water service. ¾ Used for decades without any evidence of harm to human health; not one known case of someone having suffered as a result of using PVC product.

PVC: The Life Saving Plastic PVC products meet a demanding range of health and safety standards established by numerous agencies including : ¾US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ¾National Sanitation Foundation ¾National Fire Protection Association ¾Consumer Products Safety Commission (CSPC) ¾ Various building codes ¾ In the Philippines, products are regulated by the Bureau of Product Standards as well as the Food and Drug Administration.

Phthalates have a 50+ year history of safe use and have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the US and overseas. ¾ Permits fabrication of transparent PVC products, a factor important in many medical applications; provides high resistance to kinking, ensuring that critical fluids reach a patient in prescribed doses; combine superior performance and cost effectiveness to create PVC medical products that have led to improved and affordable patient care.

Former U.S. Surgeon General says

“Phthalates are safe”

Expert panel headed by former US Surgeon General reveal that can be safely used in medical products and toys thePhthalates use of phthalates in some medical devices makes them safer than alternative materials.

What Authorities Say about Phthalates ¾ US FDA:

Little or no concern for most patients (caution advised for certain highly exposed patients) ¾ European Union Committee on Medicine: No adverse effects even in highly exposed patients ¾ American Chemistry Council: There is no reliable evidence that any phthalates have ever caused any harm to any human in their fifty-year history of use.

Phthalates in Toys The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) found that DINP (diisononyl phthalate), the phthalate commonly used in toys, poses “no demonstrated health risk” when used in children’s PVC toys (2000). ¾ EU Risk Assessment carried out on DINP published in the Official Journal clearly stated that DINP poses no risks to humans in any of its current applications (including toys).

Phthalates in Toys ¾ Based on the extensive studies, there is no scientifically validated data that shows the use of phthalates in children's toys poses a human health risk. ¾ DINP has an extensive database that includes test results from studies on possible liver and kidney effects, cancer, reproduction and development, as well as recent and on going research on endocrine modulation.

Phthalates in Toys ¾In 2003, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) denied a petition from an NGO to ban PVC/phthalate products for children, after an extensive review on the risk. ¾The good news is that alternative plasticizers are available for those “can be put in the mouth” applications and so there should be no need to move away from flexible PVC. ¾This is particularly important because it is the excellent mechanical performance of flexible PVC which prevents small pieces being broken off resulting in children being put at risk of death by choking.

PVC Films/Cling-wrap DEHA (di-2-ethylhexyl adipate) is one of the most commonly used plasticizers for plastic food wraps. Based on extensive research, the US Food and Drug Administration permits the use of DEHA in packaging for all types of food. ¾ DEHA allows the plastic wrap to cling to

bowls to help keep food fresh and safe.

¾ DEHA, being a plasticizer, has been tested in nearly all available test / screening systems together with a lot of other substances.

Plasticized PVC Films/Cling-wraps

PVC Films/Cling-wrap ¾ The weight of evidence shows that up to now, there is no indication that DEHA has caused any adverse health effects in human. ¾ Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture figures for average consumption, the exposure to DEHA is below levels of concern. ¾ The Center for Food and Nutrition Policy in the

US views the benefits of plastic wrap “to protect food safety and quality on the shelf far outweighs the imagined risks..”

PVC Films/Cling-wrap ¾ Toxicologists and legislative authorities in Europe agree that plasticizers used in food packaging pose no hazard to health or environment. ¾ In tests conducted in the UK and more recently in France, Germany and the Netherlands, it was shown that the average DEHA intake was six to twenty times below the limits proposed by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee for Food, limits which already have large margins of safety built in. ¾ Plastic food wraps are used safely by millions of people every day to help protect foods against spoilage and contamination.

PVC Shower Curtains PVC shower curtains have been in the market for decades with no reported incidents of harm. ¾ Recent reports on PVC shower curtains claim that curtains are harmful, without citing any evidence of actual harm. ¾ Failed to produce quantifiable results to identify phthalates off-gassing to the air. ¾ Seen as a blatant attempt by a well-known pressure group to manipulate consumers and retailers into thinking that shower curtains pose harm, when they don’t.

News on PVC shower curtains based on biased study

News on PVC shower curtains based on biased study

News on PVC shower curtains based on biased study ¾ Toxicological experts of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC), the agency charged with protecting the public from dangers in more than 15,000 types of consumer products under its jurisdiction, had many, many concerns with the credibility of the science involved. ¾ They cited that the methodology, as well as the peer review which comprised a selection of experts, are non-objective. ¾ Critics likewise said that the testing was not verified by an independent laboratory and did not account for real-world conditions.

DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) is non- carcinogenic DEHP has been recognized as being noncarcinogenic to humans by the European Commission and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an affiliate organization of the World Health Organization (WHO) – 2000 ¾ Decision was based on recommendations by a group of 28 experts from 12 countries ¾ In Europe, DEHP is the plasticizer recommended in the European Pharmacopoeia for life-saving medical devices such as blood and plasma transfusion equipment.

PVC/Phthalates in Medical Devices ¾ Millions of people have benefited from having been treated with DEHP/PVC medical products: more than 5-7 billion patient days of acute exposure and between 1-2 billion patient days of chronic exposure to DEHP plasticized medical products. ¾ PVC/DEHP devices such as tubings and intravenous bags have been in use for more than 50 years in healthcare establishments around the world; researched extensively to ensure that they are safe when used appropriately. ¾ No alternative has undergone the same rigid testing and/or shown the same performance track record.

What Authorities Say about DEHP Independent and distinguished panel of world renowned environmental and medical experts led by the former US Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop concludes: ¾“DEHP in medical devices is not harmful to even highly exposed people, those who undergo certain medical procedures such as regular hemodialysis or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation”. ¾“DEHP imparts a variety of important characteristics that are critical to the function of medical devices and eliminating DEHP in these products could cause harm to some individuals”.

What Authorities Say about DEHP ¾ “DEHP-containing medical devices should not be taken out of the market because the weight of scientific evidence indicates that they pose no significant health risk to humans. “ ¾ “Conversely, because of their important physical properties in various medical procedures and applications, DEHP-containing devices should remain as available to the field of medicine as required to ensure patient safety”

What Authorities Say about DEHP European Union’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) the EU’s highest independent scientific authority (March 2008): ¾ In addition to its beneficial effect on mechanical properties, DEHP also stabilizes the membranes of red blood cells enabling blood product storage in PVC blood bags for several weeks. This same property has not been evaluated for most alternative plasticizers. ¾ Some alternatives may be suitable to replace DEHP in certain medical devices while for other devices, it may be difficult to obtain the same functionalities as PVC stabilized with DEHP

DEHP and Endocrine Disruption What are endocrine – disruptors? ¾An endocrine disruptor is an oxegenous substance or mixture that alters functions (s) of endocrine (hormone) system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny or (sub) populations ¾Many natural and sometimes man-made substances that act like hormones

Examples of Suspected as Endocrine Disruptors (1998) Synthetic Female ¾ Used as oral contraceptive for hormone therapy of Hormones menopausal syndrome ¾ Since they are hormones, naturally their hormonal activities are strong Phytoestrogen

¾ Substance with hormonal activity present in nature ¾ Present in soybean, therefore people are taking it daily via food

Agricultural Chemicals

¾ Residual property and toxicity are tested and evaluated ¾ Some of this are posing problem due to hormonal activity

Nonyphenol, bisphenol A, phthalate esters

¾ Used as surfactant, synthetic resin and plasticizer respectively ¾ Bioconcentration is low. Toxicity is also weak ¾ No female hormone-lie activity was observed with phthalate esters in animal tests (rat)

DEHP has no endocrine disruptive effects

“SPEED ’98” – Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors ’98 by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), Japan Source: Prepared from press release document by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Japan, entitled the “1st Meeting of Endocrine Disruptive Chemical Substances Study committee: FY 2003

Copies of final reports on EU Risk Assessment Study Available at: DEHP - Final report: http://ecb.jrc.it/documents/ExistingChemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/REPORT/dehpreport042.pdf DINP - Summary report: http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/ExistingChemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/SUMMARY/dinpsum046.pdf DINP - Final report: http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/ExistingChemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/REPORT/dinpreport046.pdf DIDP - Summary report: http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/ExistingChemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/SUMMARY/didpsum041.pdf DIDP - Full report: http://ecb.jrc.it/DOCUMENTS/ExistingChemicals/RISK_ASSESSMENT/REPORT/didpreport041.pdf

PVC, Dioxins and Incineration “Dioxin” is a general term used to refer to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD’s) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF’s) that are created in small amounts in a variety of natural and synthetic chemical processes.

PVC, Dioxins and Incineration ¾ They are formed as undesirable waste products during processes where carbon-containing organic material is exposed to very high temperatures in the presence of chlorine. ¾ Because chlorine is so pervasive in the environment, it is a fact that dioxin can be a byproduct of natural causes, including forest fires, lightning and volcanoes as well as manmade activities such as burning of wood, backyard trash, kitchen wastes, paper, etc., diesel vehicle emissions and various manufacturing processes.

PVC, Dioxins and Incineration ¾ PVC is an extremely small source of dioxin, so small that levels in the environment would be essentially unchanged even if PVC were not being manufactured and used every day in important products. ¾ Based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, dioxin levels in the environment have been declining for decades, during which time, production and use of PVC have soared. ¾ Similar studies in the UK, Germany and US point out that dioxin emission have declined by 50% since 1970, even though PVC production in these countries has more than doubled.

Dioxin Down, Vinyl Up Vinyl Production, billion lbs/yr

2 Dioxin Deposits pg/cm /yr

Source: Hagenmaier, 1996, EPA, 1998, 2002

EPA Data: Vinyl is a Minor Dioxin Source 2002/4 Emissions (g TEQ)

Backyard burning All other sources

Vinyl resin mfrg Diesel trucks Fireplaces

¾Based on studies in the US, the biggest manmade source of Source: Dioxin Policy Project, dioxin by U.S. far EPA, is backyard /open Office of Pollution Prevention & Toxics burning (around 57%)

PVC, Dioxins and Incineration ¾ Contrary to what other sectors are leading the public to believe, PVC can be safely incinerated in state-of-the-art incineration facilities and its energy can be recaptured to produce light, heat and power for industry and home. ¾ Through complete combustion, PVC can be broken down into water, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride (HCl). This is the reason why Japan and other major countries of the world operate their incinerators at conditions as close to complete combustion as possible in order to control dioxins generation.

PVC, Dioxins and Incineration ¾ Landmark study sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), analyzing more than 1,900 test results from 169 large-scale, commercial incinerators worldwide, found no statistical relationship between the chlorine content of waste and dioxin emissions. ¾ This was further confirmed by other similar studies, showing that adding or removing PVC content (typically a small fraction of total waste stream) does not affect the generation of dioxin. In the same manner, properly designed and operated systems will also neutralize a range of acid gases, including HCl.

Safe water delivered safely by PVC pipes ¾ PVC is used in pipes certified to meet American

National Standards Institute/ National Sanitation Foundation Standard 61 for safe use in drinking water service. ¾ Laboratory tests of drinking water passing through

PVC pipes are well within the values recommended by the WHO for presence of chemical substances ¾ About 14 Mil MT of PVC is used worldwide for PVC

pipes and fittings for potable water supply, waste water systems and related applications

Safe water delivered safely by PVC pipes ¾ In the Philippines, about 15 companies produce

PVC pipes for different applications, all complying with the Philippine National Standards and holding PS Quality Mark Licenses ¾ The PNS has recently revised the standards for

water pipes, to conform with ISO guidelines BUREAU OF PRODUCT STANDARDS CERTIFIED

CERTIFIED

Product Safety

Product Quality

Philippine Standard (PS) Marks

What Are We Doing for the Future? ¾ Responsible Care® commitment –

- Further reduce emissions

–

- Worker health/safety training

–

- Information / education campaign on proper waste disposal and management

¾ Support recycling technology (3R’s) ¾ Continue researches and tests on new

formulations to improve environmental performance

In Conclusion ¾ PVC is one of the most, tested, versatile and economical plastic materials available in the world today with well documented record of safety. ¾ PVC products not only last for a very long time, but also have comparatively modest energy requirements in production and disposal. ¾ The environmental footprint of PVC compares favorably with that of competitive materials as it conserves resources, is cost effective and has good sustainability credentials. ¾ This is the reason why today, about 35Mil MT of PVC is used worldwide and PVC consumption growth continues to increase.

What You/We Can Do ¾ Beware of misinformation/fear tactics – - Review factual data from reliable sources – - Gain balanced view of supposed threats – - Learn to differentiate between real and

imaginary dangers ¾ Make goals performance-based, not materials-

based ¾ Use life cycle approach – - Compare alternative materials with equal

scrutiny

Information Sources For more information on PVC and related materials, please visit the following websites: www.vinylnewsservice.net www.plasticsinfo.org www.vinyl2010.org www.vinylinfo.org www.plastics.org www.vinylindesign.com www.americanchemistry.com www.phthalates.org www.ecvm.org