Future of PVC

PVC's properties, cost, and versatility point to a bright future of growth in many existing products and markets as well as new, yet unimagined products. This bright future will, however, depend on how well the industry deals--in a rational and scientific manner-- with the environmental misconceptions that continually arise. Here are but a few forces that could drive potential product development and growth (courtesy of the Vinyl Institute, Vinyl 2020 Report, 1996):

  • Global warming and demands for innovations in irrigation, shoreline protection and water control. Deforestation and the rising cost of wood as a building material.
  • Worldwide urbanization
    and its demands for low cost innovations in housing, water distribution, sanitation and infrastructure---especially in the "second and third worlds".
  • The health care revolution and the growing demand for products--including body parts-- that utilize vinyl's properties.
  • The communications revolution and the need to "wire" the growing information superhighway.
  • The environmental revolution, in which PVC can be promoted as a "Green" alternative. (Lower dependence--46.5%-- on nonrenewable petroleum feedstocks, Lower energy costs to produce pipe, siding, etc. vs. cast iron, aluminum, Lower BTU loss than aluminum and wood windows (foam-filled PVC), Longer lasting non corrosion water and sewer piping than ductile iron, cement asbestos pipe, as a few examples.)