New criteria for PVC to be released soon

The purpose of our new criteria is to open up the possibility for a risk perspective in SundaHus-assessments of PVC products. In the SundaHus current criteria, there are requirements on the residual monomer content for polymers built up of the phase out substances acrylonitrile, butadiene and propylene oxide. In addition to this, we plan to introduce the corresponding criteria for processes associated with the manufacture of PVC.

The new criteria for PVC has been under consideration and we have mostly received positive feedback. The criteria includes requirements on the following factors:

• the concentration of residual vinyl chloride in the plastic
• how much factory workers are exposed to free vinyl chloride during the manufacture of PVC
• the avoidance of the use of additives with particularly hazardous metals (lead and cadmium) in PVC
• avoidance of the mercury method for the production of chlorine for PVC

Our plan for the implementation of the new criteria is during the autumn 2017.