Editor’s Note : This Viewpoint piece was written in response to the article ‘Green Building with Plastics’ by Marion Axmith, Director General of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, that appeared in the Nov/Dec 08, Issue 14 of SABMag.

PVC use is increasing in spite of the toxic by-products of the manufacturing process

by Tracey Loston

The case made by the plastics industry on behalf of PVC is full of misleading facts and figures that misrepresent or underplay the case against one of the most toxic building materials in use today. In addition, the plastics industry implies a connection between the use of their products and the acquisition of LEED points. No one product can give a project a point, and to imply that putting PVC in your building can “make a significant contribution” to your LEED scorecard is ludicrous. (more…)