Preamble

The Vinyl Council recognises that PVC products add significant benefit to society, including environmental benefit, as a function of their excellent performance, durability and affordability. However, as with any manufactured product, there are impacts which need to be understood, characterised and addressed along the PVC product life cycle.

Product Stewardship

The Council believes that raw material suppliers, product manufacturers, product distributors and consumers are joint stewards for the safe and beneficial production, use and disposal of those products. This is what we understand by product stewardship: the shared management of the health, safety and environmental aspects of PVC products through their life cycle.

Product Stewardship Policy

• The Council will assist members, relevant authorities and experts to understand, characterise and address product stewardship issues associated with the life cycle of PVC products in Australia in a manner consistent with our understanding of the values and expectations expressed by the general community.
  
  
• Members will inform the Council of any significant environmental or health safety issues coming to their attention in connection with the manufacture, use or disposal of PVC products.
  
  
• Through its website, publications and public statements, the Council will seek to keep stakeholders informed of the principal issues. This will include full and balanced reporting of issues and industry performance.
  
  
• The Council will offer leadership and guidance to member companies in addressing stewardship issues associated with their respective PVC products.

Policy Documents

Click here to view the PVC Industry Minimum Acceptable Standard for Environment Management of Signatory Operations.

Click here to view our Code of Practice for the Use of Lead and Cadmium Stabilisers in PVC.

Click here to view our Policy for the Use of Phthalate Plasticisers in Flexible PVC Products in Australia.