Everything about PVC

For more than 50 years, PVC has been very successful throughout the world. Today, this versatile material is one of the most important plastic materials recognised internationally and proven on the market.

PVC has distinguished itself especially with its wide range of applications. PVC products are often cost-effective in terms of purchasing and maintenance. At the same time, they contribute more and more to sustainable development throughout their entire life cycle: this occurs by means of state-of-the-art manufacturing and production methods, the responsible use of energy and resources, cost-effective manufacturing and processing, as well as established recovery possibilities. This progress has led to a continuous increase in the demand for this plastic material. Moreover, through cost-effective PVC products, society saves money which can be spent on further sound ecological and social investments.

  • Economic Importance

    In 2014, the European plastics industry had a turnover of 350 billion euros. PVC is one of the most important plastic materials in Europe and is in a class of its own worldwide. The PVC industry has achieved enormous economic importance through its extremely wide range of high-quality products. The prognosis shows continued growth.

  • Manufacturing and Raw Materials

    The European PVC industry has consistently improved its manufacturing processes in recent years. This is especially true for PVC-formulations. Thus, there have been considerable changes in the use of stabilisers and plasticisers.

  • Processing and Products

    PVC can be converted into various products in a number of ways. The range extends from heat-insulating, energy-saving windows to robust pipes and easy-to-clean floorings. Approximately seventy percent of PVC materials are used in the building sector, many of which are long-life products.

  • Recycling

    Used PVC products are too good to throw away. The European PVC industry has organised a recovery system for the most important PVC products in order to save valuable resources and has set ambitious goals for the future.

  • Fire Behavior

    Even PVC products can catch fire. The following information provide a short overview about how PVC reacts in the event of fire.

  • Sustainable Development

    PVC products perform well ecologically as well as socially and economically. Essential for this success are low life-cycle costs, longevity, and the recyclability of these high-quality products.

  • Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC Industry

    The European PVC industry has achieved all the objectives of its voluntary commitment Vinyl 2010 and thereby has made a considerable contribution to the sustainable development of its products. With the follow-up agreement VinylPlus, it will continue this active involvement.

  • Soft-PVC

    Modern products made of soft PVC combine outstanding properties with high aesthetic and tactile demands. Durable imitation leather is offered in an unbelievably wide range of structures and colours for the design of elegant surfaces in the automotive and upholstered furniture sector. Fabrics with PVC coating are used in the construction of futuristic-looking membrane roofs.

"Everything about PVC"

The brochure “Alles über PVC – von der Herstellung bis zum Recycling” (“Everything about PVC – from production to recycling”) was revised in January 2016 and contains up-to-date data on all relevant topics concerning PVC. You can download the English version as PDF here.

PVC-WIKI

pvcwiki_DE

The PVC-WIKI is available as a knowledge bank exclusively to member companies. Currently there are about 8,000 documents in the modern knowledge management tool, which is professionally maintained by the members of WG Knowledge.