Green Building Council of Australia Introduces PVC Credit in Green Star Rating Tool

ABBOTSFORD, Victoria, Australia, April 27, 2010 – Using PVC pipe, conduit, wiring, flooring, or wallcovering made according to “Best Practices Guidelines” can now qualify a builder or designer in Australia for up to two credits under the new Green Star program of The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The new credit recognizes the progress of the Australian PVC industry through its product stewardship program to improve the environmental performance of PVC products.

Under the PVC credit, projects will be able to claim two points towards their Green Star rating if the project’s flooring and resilient wall coverings, cable, pipe, and conduit – which together account for the majority of PVC use in buildings – meet the Green Building Council’s Best Practices Guidelines.  The guidelines set requirements for the way qualifying products are manufactured and managed at end of life, among other provisions.  

This decision followed review of stakeholder comments on the draft PVC credit published in January.  The comments generally supported the pro-PVC provisions in Green Star but led to some changes in the final wording of the credit, including the listing of resilient vinyl wall coverings as one of the common uses of PVC in healthcare; a requirement for an independent confirmation of recycled PVC content in products; and refinement of the Best Practice Guidelines for management of end-of-life PVC.

This proposal follows nearly two years of extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the establishment of an Expert Reference Panel which offered advice and recommendations, and the completion by the GBCA of a comprehensive review of the life cycle of PVC building products.  It replaces a credit to reduce use of PVC contained in Green Star introduced in 2003 which encouraged minimizing the use of PVC in base building and interior applications.  

Green Star Executive Director Robin Mellon said, “The credit review process found that rewarding best practice PVC products within the Green Star rating system was the most effective way to encourage responsible production.”

The Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA), representing the Australian PVC industry, commended the GBCA for reviewing its position on the use of PVC products in the built environment.  

The VCA’s Chief Executive, Sophi MacMillan, said that the GBCA's approach will have a significant impact on shaping the future of Australia's PVC industry by giving recognition to individual PVC manufacturers and product suppliers who have improved environmental and health aspects of their products and processes.

“With the PVC credit now finalized, the PVC industry looks forward to working with the Green Building Council and the property industry to support the implementation of the new credit,” MacMillan said.

“The challenge for our industry,” she continued, “is to ensure availability of independently verified product that meets the best practice criteria in the new credit.  We are committed to encouraging a more sustainable PVC industry with products that improve environmental performance in the building sector.”

Greg Bocchi, president of The Vinyl Institute, commented, “I congratulate the Vinyl Council of Australia on its successful efforts to educate the Green Building Council of Australia on the important stewardship improvements the PVC industry has made over the years, and I commend the GBCA for recognizing the ability of PVC products to contribute to sustainability and green building performance while meeting the council’s best practice guidelines.”

For more information, go to: www.vinyl.org.au.

The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC/vinyl resin in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC/vinyl products to society.  

For more information on The Vinyl Institute, contact:

Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
571-970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org 

Also go to:  www.vinylindesign.com, www.vinylinfo.org, and www.achievegreen.net.