[GRRN] PVC

RecycleWorlds (anderson@msn.fullfeed.com)
Thu, 25 Feb 1999 09:08:33 -0600

According to the January 1999 issue of Modern Plastics, PVC has
continued its long decline in market share among bottles manufactured in
the United States. As a share of all commodity grade bottle resin, it
declined by 8.1% between 1997 and 1998, and, in absolute terms, by 3.3%.

At the same time, the declining residual quantities of PVC in the
plastic bottle stream is still significantly greater than the level of
concern as a contaminant in PET where acceptable levels are less than 20
ppm, depending upon application. Also, at the same time, PVC resin used in
bottle applications is only 1.2% of all applications in which PVC is sold.
Total PVC resin production in the U.S. increased by 4.0% between 1997 and
1998.

RESIN IN BOTTLES IN U.S.
(millions of pounds)

1997 1998
PET Soft Drink 1,858 1,975
PET Custom 1,352 1,570
PVC 150 145
HDPE Food 1,264 1,334
HDPE HIC+Oil 1,226 1,224
PP 167 190
LDPE 68 62
Total 8,082 8,498

PVC MARKET SHARE IN BOTTLE APPLICATIONS

PVC/All 1.86% 1.71%
PVC/PET Soft 8.07% 7.34%
PVC/PET All 4.67% 4.09%
PVC/PET+HDPE2.63% 2.38%

____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com