Life cycle inventory of PVC: manufacturing and fabrication processes

A four stage study of the life cycle inventories of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin manufacturing, compounding, part fabrication and disposal was conducted by IBM to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with the use of PVC in structural applications for personal computer products. The overall project was performed in two phases. The first phase developed inventories for the various processes involved in the manufacture of a typical PVC housing. These processes included suspension polymerization of PVC, production of a commercially formulated PVC compound, part molding, the use of copper paint for metallization (electromagnetic shielding) of the part, an alternative metallization technology (the use of a discrete steel liner inside the PVC part), and the use of a waterborne paint for decorative finishing of the PVC part as opposed to integral finish obtained from the mold. This manufacturing phase of the study provided a comparison of shielding technologies as well as an assessment of the relative and cumulative burdens of the part manufacturing processes. Phase two of the project provided ecoprofiles of three disposal alternatives for a clean PVC plastic part at end-of-life: landfilling, incineration with heat recovery, and a closed loop recycling option. This paper presents the manufacturing phase data (phase one) of the project and their relationship to the end-of-life conclusions, In addition, the work provides recommendations for environmentally preferable design guidelines and recycling applications