Nigel Jones, George Macovaz, Alan Whittle, and Mark Heathcote
Papers # 2012 Barcelona
Key Words : PVC, Green Building Until recently the Australian green building rating tool effectively created a disincentive to use PVC pipe. The PVC industry in general and the PVC pipe industry in particular worked with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and associated stakeholders to establish an alternative approach based on science rather than prejudice. The paper describes the process of working with the various stakeholders such as Government agencies, the GBCA and the waste recycling industry to establish a mutually respectful relationship that ultimately led to a revision of the rating tool. The revised rating tool now rewards the use of “Best Environmental Practice” PVC (BEP PVC) products. Qualification of BEP PVC takes into account the full life cycle of PVC and in particular addresses key issues such as the involvement of mercury in raw material production, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) release and VCM in the resin itself, heavy metal stabilisers in product manufacture and end of life product management.
