PVC = PROBLEM VERY CLEAR

Commonly used plastics pose many threats to human health and the environment, making them one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. But in the landscape of the various plastics that surround us, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stands out.

Not only is it found everywhere, from home furnishings to children’s toys and medical supplies, contributing to widespread, irreversible plastic pollution, but it is also associated with grave toxic effects along its whole life cycle - from production to disposal.

The risks posed by PVC in terms of chemical safety have been on EU lawmakers’ radar for decades. But it is only recently that the European Commission tasked the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) with formally investigating this material and the additives used in it.

The Commission’s 2022 decision to prioritise PVC for potential regulation (EC, Restrictions Roadmap, 2022) fits into the broader ambition of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: to get rid of the most harmful chemicals used in the EU.