FAQs

I've been told PVC is bad for the enviroment - why should I choose it?

There has been much controversy surrounding the use, manufacture, recycling and sustainability of PVC. It's use has been under intense & hostile attack for a number of years, primarily because of it's association with chlorine chemistry.
Much of this argument has been emotionally driven rather than based upon scientific scrutiny. Indeed Dr Moore (co-founder of Greenpeace) has said "Further, PVC is durable, low maintenance, recyclable and performs well in LCA (life cycle assessment) tests".
Some simple facts about PVC-U windows are:

• The Building Research Establishment (BRE) states a life of at least 35 years.
• No need for additional chemical and manufacturing processes to create paint and treatments (unlike other products).  (source Specifier Briefing - The Open & Shut Case for PVc-U  BPF)
• 8500 tonnes of PVC-U window waste material were recycled in the UK in 2005. A study by the government funded Waste and Resource Allocation Programme (WRAP) suggests that some alternative materials are practically impossible to recycle efficiently due to the paints solvents and putties used to install & maintain them.(source Specifier Briefing - The Open & Shut Case for PVc-U  BPF)
•  PVC-U manufacture has been referred to as 'Dioxin Factories'. The industry is very strictly regulated and it's a very low contributor to dioxin levels. The highest dioxin concentration allowed from industrial discharge is 0.1ng/cubic metre. UK studies suggest that as much as 14% of the total UK annual emissions can be attributed to Bonfire Night celebrations.  According to a report published by HMIP in 1995 (source 'A review of Dioxin Emission in the UK) more dioxins are released into the atmosphere through sources invloving the combustion of wood than are produced by the entire halogenated chemicals industry.
  
• The energy used to manufacture PVC is low compared to other materials e.g. aluminium. The manufacture of 1 cubic decimetre of PVC requires only 2kg of mineral oil, for the same amount of steel it is as much as 5kg, and for aluminium it can be 15kg.
• PVC has the following properties in a fire; difficult to ignite, self extinguishes, will not spread flame.
• Figures put together over a 30 year period by the Northern Consortium of Housing Authorities in the UK shows that the total capital and maintenance costs for a softwood window will be 33% more than for a window in PVC-U (assuming a 10% bank interest rate in a scheme over 30 years).
• An industry study in Germany (where PVC-U windows have been commonplace for many years) by AgPU (German industrial organisation) has shown that total investment and maintenance costs for a hardwood system over a 35 year period were 23% more expensive than PVC-U and aluminium systems were 57% more expensive.
  

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