Chemicals for Life
"From paints to plastics, textiles to technology, medicines to mobile phones - chemicals manufactured by INEOS ChlorVinyls enhance almost every aspect of modern life."
INEOS ChlorVinyls is at the heart of Europe's chemical industry. Our products make a significant contribution to saving life, improving health and enhancing standards of living in Europe and around the world.
The chemicals we produce are used to make many of the things that have become part of everyday life, helping to keep people clean, healthy, fed, clothed, housed, secure and in touch.
Chorine is essential to meet the growing needs and demands of society. In addition to water disinfection, chlorine and sodium hypochlorite are used to treat sewage and industrial effluent, and as household and industrial bleaches to maintain and improve hygiene standards. Chlorine is an essential chemical used in the production of plastics such as PVC, cosmetics and deodorants, electrical equipment such as radios, telephones and computers, compact discs and sports equipment.
Sustainability for the PVC Industry
The environmental debate about PVC dates back to the mid 1970's. Within this some environmental pressure groups have fiercely campaigned against PVC as part of a wider campaign against all chlorine chemicals.
The markets for PVC products have proved resilient. There have only been a few isolated examples of PVC substitution by alternative materials, and some of these substitutions have been on the grounds of technical performance rather than environmental or brand image considerations. For example, vinyl records replaced by CDs and PVC mineral water bottles replaced by PET. Individual organisations have made public statements of their intention to phase-out PVC. Implementation of these policies has met with variable degrees of success. Some initial decisions against PVC have subsequently, and less publicly, been reversed. In the meantime PVC products have themselves been successful in substituting alternative materials. For example, the dramatic growth of PVC windows and other construction products matched by a corresponding decline in the use of timber. The net overall effect has been that the market for PVC has continued to advance at rates that approximately match economic growth. Today the global market for PVC stands at over 28 million tonnes per year (approximately 6 million tonnes per year in Western Europe).
PVC consumption is a good economic indicator of prosperity. This is because PVC products are used in leading economic sectors, from construction to transport, packaging and healthcare.
Despite the apparent resilience of the PVC market it would be complacent to assume that the future of our industry is assured. No industry can make such a sweeping assumption.
The PVC industry has recognised that if it wants to arrive at the destination of a sustainable future then it must follow the path of sustainable development. As with any journey it is essential to first know the destination.
Want more information?
For further information about our environmental and regulatory affairs programmes please contact:
Mr Roger Mottram
Group Environmental & Regulatory Affairs Manager
INEOS ChlorVinyls
Runcorn Site HQ
PO Box 9
South Parade
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 4JE
Telephone: +44 (0) 1928 512592
Fax: +44 (0) 1928 516020
Email: roger.mottram@ineosvinyls.com
