Vinyl industry press

[Dave Pettingill <isobar@igc.apc.org>]

I post the following for informational purposes only. The opinions
in it are not mine, quite the contrary.
Dave Pettingill <isobar@igc.org>
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TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

COMMUNIQUE OF THE FOURTH TRIPARTITE CONFERENCE OF THE VINYL INDUSTRY

      TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, October 24 -/E-Wire/-- The following 
is released by Japan PVC Association, European Council of Vinyl 
Manufacturers, The Vinyl Institute, and the Vinyl Council of Canada:

      As 85 representatives of the world's vinyl plastic industry 
from 13 countries, we have convened for the fourth time to seek ways 
for vinyl (PVC or polyvinyl chloride) to better serve society, while 
renewing our commitment to protecting human health and the 
environment in the production and use of our products.

     We believe that we have made significant progress in the 
protection of the environment during the manufacture, use, recycling 
and disposal of vinyl products, but we are determined to do still 
better in the years ahead.

     To this end, we will:

      1.  Encourage continued sharing of technology information and 
know- how which will benefit the environment.

     2.  Increase efforts to coordinate global communications about 
vinyl and its role in society, including sharing information within 
the industry and ensuring that the positive aspects of vinyl are 
being communicated to the public.

     3.  Support continued, intensified and broader research on 
health effects of chemicals to further confirm that no one is exposed 
to hazards from our products or processes.

     4.  Seek to use only chemicals which can be used without harm to 
people or the environment.

     5.  Ensure that all communications relating to vinyl production 
and use are accurate and honest and encourage media attention to the 
importance of accuracy in any information they receive and convey 
during their coverage of the vinyl industry.

     6.  Continue and expand efforts to recycle vinyl material 
through both mechanical and feedstock methods and to find new ways to 
reuse it.

     7.  Initiate efforts to establish constructive dialogue by the 
industry with non-governmental organizations concerned with 
environmental improvement.

      It was agreed that the industry should pursue the feasibility 
of a common declaration demonstrating its willingness to work 
cooperatively with governments, using as models the European Council 
of Vinyl Manufacturers' Industry Charter, the proposed Canadian 
Memorandum of Understanding and the Responsible Care(R) program of 
the Chemical Manufacturers Association in the U.S.  The industry also 
agreed to work toward improving its ongoing efforts to share 
scientific information and maintain a dialogue with scientists in 
governments and in the scientific community at large.

     It is important to note that data shared on the dioxin issue, 
including ongoing testing voluntarily initiated by the industry, 
confirms that dioxin emissions to the environment from PVC production 
are not significant and do not impact public health.

     Industry representatives also heard information on a study of 
1,700 test results from 155 incinerators which shows that there is no 
relationship between chlorine levels and dioxin emissions.  A 
separate study on vinyl in accidental fires shows vinyl's 
contribution to dioxin formation in that area is insignificant -- 
less than half a gram per year.

     Vinyl's benefit to society -- from providing affordable housing 
to increasing food supplies by irrigation -- were discussed at length 
and it was agreed that the industry must strive to ensure continued 
access to vinyl around the world as a material that is safe, valuable 
and good for the environment.

     Finally, it was agreed that the industry will convene next year 
in Europe.

     -0-

     /CONTACT:  Tsukasa Matsui, Executive 
Director, of Japan PVC Association, Tokyo, 
Japan, 011-81-33506-5481; John Svalander, 
Director, of European Council of Vinyl 
Manufacturers, Brussels, Belgium, 
011-322-675-29-71; Robert Burnett, Executive 
Director, of The Vinyl Institute, Morristown, 
NJ, U.S.A., 201-898-6699; Marion Axmith, of 
Vinyl Council of Canada, 905-678-7405, ext. 
232; or Nora Jacobs of Edward Howard & Co., 
Cleveland, OH, U.S.A., 216-781-2400/ 

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