Manufacturing PVC

As part of the PVC industry's Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development, European manufacturers have agreed to reduce the environmental impact of PVC production.

Regular audits by independent consultants are used to check progress and compliance to the 'best available techniques' standards that are laid down in the agreements.

The graph shows the results from an audit of European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) members which was published in 2003.

93% of manufacturers fully comply with the standards. Improvements continue to get all European PVC manufacturers up to the best available technology standards.

• Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) and Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) in wastes are recycled back into the production process.

• Wastes do not contain VCM, heavy metals or dioxin-like compounds that exceed current permitted levels.

• Chlorinated by-products are recycled into the production process or are destroyed, with the recovery of chlorine as hydrogen chloride (HCl).

• Residual levels of VCM in the final PVC product does not exceed permitted levels.

• Waste gases and effluents are constantly monitored to assess the effectiveness of pollution-reduction measures.

• Accidental releases of emissions are reduced by installing leak-safe seals and monitoring technology.