Vinyl Industry Offers 'Second Opinion' on Green Guide for Health Care

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 5, 2008 – Companies and associations in the vinyl, chlorine, cement and other industries reiterated strong objections to material bias and discrimination in round-two comments on the Green Guide for Health Care.  

The Green Guide includes credits to encourage deselection of PVC or halogenated medical products and building products, and to segregate PVC wastes from other wastes headed for incineration, implying that PVC is a problem for incinerators.  Such credit incentives directly contradict regulatory policies by government agencies worldwide and leading life-cycle studies of PVC and competing materials.  For example, the U.S. Green Building Council's own Technical and Scientific Advisory Panel (TSAC) report on PVC concluded that discouraging use of PVC could steer designers to worse-performing materials.  

Comments on the original draft Green Guide pointing out the contradictions with life-cycle studies were largely ignored or received only boilerplate response, and the anti-PVC, anti-halogen provisions remained unchanged in the second draft guide.  A typical response to round-one comments: "The classes of chemicals and materials addressed by the credit have been prioritized on authoritative lists as part of voluntary industry initiatives and/or by the EPA or other government bodies...As a voluntary, self-certifying, best-practices toolkit, none of the strategies incorporated in the GGHC are mandatory. Furthermore, no facility will be able to achieve every credit listed in the GGHC."  

Comments on round two were due on Aug. 31.  The vinyl industry focused primarily on three sections of the guide in its responses.  The most responses related to the establishment of an "environmentally preferable purchasing credit" for avoiding PVC building materials and halogenated compounds.  As stated in comments by Allen Blakey, Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs, "This credit could drastically limit the ability of builders and architects to choose beneficial, critical building materials for healthcare facilities."  He also noted, "No scientific justification exists for a PVC avoidance credit, which runs counter to...the U.S. Green Building Council's Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee review of PVC and competing building materials, the European Commission's environmental impact review of PVC and competing materials, and California's comprehensive environmental impact review of CPVC pipe."  

Vinyl-backed carpet manufacturers noted all carpets are protected with stain resistant and water repellant treatments, most of them containing fluorine, which is a halogen.  "Therefore, to exclude from this credit products manufactured with added halogenated compounds would result in the exclusion of virtually all commercial carpet products in healthcare facilities."  

In addition, vinyl flooring manufacturers cited their "easy to clean surfaces which are critical to controlling pathogens" and "moisture resistance which prevents mold, pathogens, and bacterial growth."  Roofing manufacturers cited PVC roofing membranes are more fire resistant and more durable than alternative materials, and unlike alternatives, can be successfully recycled at the end of its service life.  Vinyl wallcoverings were cited by respondents as facilitating the control of infection, as well as being energy efficient and recyclable.  PVC pipes were cited as easy to sanitize and maintain in service.  

The guide also proposes an environmentally preferable purchasing credit for the elimination of PVC in medical products.  Blakey responded, "The credit's broad mandate to eliminate use of phthalate plasticizers is also inappropriate and, for most vinyl medical products, contrary to the advice of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which reviewed phthalate-plasticized PVC products and found the majority posed 'little to no risk'."  

Another respondent commented, "PVC is the principal component of blood bags and IV tubes which have been used safely in hospitals and saved millions of lives.  There is no credible scientific basis to de-select these beneficial and preferred PVC products."  

The third area of public comments on PVC related to a proposed waste management credit for removing PVC products from incinerated medical waste so that dioxin emissions from PVC are eliminated.  Blakey noted, "This credit is inappropriate to the extent that it targets PVC products," and that "PVC reduction/avoidance will not materially affect emissions of dioxin/furans from modern, regulated incinerators."  He also noted that according to EPA reports, "Overall dioxin emissions have declined dramatically even as PVC production and use have multiplied."       

By the Aug. 31 deadline, the Green Guide for Health Care organization received more than 80 comments, adding to the 350 comments received during the first public period.  On its web site, the organization thanked "the GGHC community, whose active participation in the tool's development has ensured a high quality, comprehensive, and relevant green operations toolkit tailored to the needs of health care!  Please stay tuned for its launch in the fall."  

The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC vinyl in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC and vinyl products to society.   

For more information, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
(703) 741-5669
jeff_palmer@plastics.org

Also go to: www.vinylindesign.com, and www.vinylinfo.org.