This Polymer Bulletin is a current awareness service from the Polymer Library, the world's largest database dedicated to polymer literature. Each time the abstracts database is updated with new records (approx. every two weeks) you will be sent a bulletin alerting you to any items that relate to PVC and the environment. 

PVC was first discovered accidentally in the 1800s, but it was not until the early 1900s that it was deliberately manufactured. It then took a further 10 years before additives were found that made it more easily processable. Since this development it has found many uses in upholstery, vinyl records and building, primarily window profiles, fascias and guttering. It also initially found use in children’s toys but later concerns regarding the leaching of the additives, particularly the phthalate plasticisers, have put a stop to this almost worldwide. There are major issues surrounding the safety of production of PVC (the monomer vinyl chloride is a carcinogen), the subsequent disposal/recycling after the product life ends and the impact that these activities may have on the environment. The additives used in PVC to make it processable make it much harder to recycle and also mean that even small amount of PVC contamination in amongst other plastics (e.g. PET bottles) can seriously impair their own recycling process. Despite all of these factors the use of PVC is still prevalent so information regarding safer recycling and processing, along with legal developments that affect producers is highly relevant today.

A Current Awareness service from Rapra may be just what you need to update your knowledge with ease and accuracy without having to waste time, effort and money finding the information yourself.

If there are many people within your organisation who would benefit from this information then get in touch to talk to us about our multi-recipient bulletin.

You can request samples of this bulletin.