Norsemen Shipyard Ltd., Inc.

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"No vinyl, that's final" and "No PVC for me."

NO VINYL AND THAT'S FINAL!

NO PVC FOR ME!

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is the fancy name for vinyl, a type of plastic. The version we know today was invented in the 1920's by a man named Waldo Semon. There are other types of vinyl with names like PVA and PVB, but PVC is the most common, and it is what people are generally referring to when they use the word vinyl.

When we think of vinyl, we might think of faux-alligator purses or raincoats or tablecloths and mattress covers, but it is also used in all kinds of other products. Your water pipes and house siding might be made of it. Your computer and refrigerator might contain it. It is in toys, shower curtains, hospital tubing, peanut butter jars, pill bottles, packaging and cars. In short, it is tricky to avoid and it is tricky to identify since there are not any labeling requirements.

Why do we want to identify and avoid it?  Its manufacture, use and disposal involve dioxin, phthalates, lead and other toxic components that can cause cancer, endocrine disruption, endometriosis, birth defects, respiratory problems and immune system damage. The full range of its effects on human health hasn't been fully determined but since there are alternatives, including other types of plastics, that are not nearly as damaging to our health and environment we need to make the effort to change our habits.

Substitutes for PVC according to Greenpeace include clay, glass, wood, bamboo, cotton, ceramics and chlorine-free plastics. The Healthy Building Network also has a list of alternatives for the building industry, which uses three-quarters of all the PVC our world manufactures. Some companies and industry groups are getting the message from consumers and activists: Microsoft, IKEA and Nike have agreed to phase out PVC. The building industry is promoting more "green buildings" and construction practices. The more we do to insist on PVC alternatives, the more we are doing to save our world.

PLEASE RECYCLE