PVC has been under attack from environmental organizations for last two decades and its usage is likely to be phased, particularly in the packaging segment in the North America .
Crabtree and Evelyn, an international manufacturer and retailer of personal care products and fine foods, is speeding up plans to stop using PVC packaging products by March 2009. Johnson & Johnson plans to reduce use of PVC packaging by 70% by end of 2007. Hospital product makers Baxter International Inc. and Hospira Inc. are moving further away from using PVC in certain medication-delivery products.
Criticism from consumer groups and others that PVC can be dangerous when used in certain products for patients and can damage the environment when it is incinerated into medical waste, have prompted these moves. PVC used in IV solutions is likely to be slowly changed to non-vinyl products. Certain drugs and products derived from biotechnology cannot be packaged in PVC.
While North America may eliminate or phase out PVC products in personal care and health care segments, Europe and Asia are expected to continue the use of PVC packaging, not only in these two applications, but also in specific packaging where PVC offers technical superiority and cost benefits.
The overall impact of the phase out in North America is not likely to be substantial because North America consumes about 25% of the total consumption of PVC globally. Besides the use of PVC in packaging is merely 15%. It is therefore expected the adverse impact of this phase out would possibly amount to decrease of about 0.25% growth globally.
