Polypropylene versus PVC. Which is best?

Importantly, the manufacturing of materials often causes the greatest environmental burden. PP sheet is manufactured from propylene monomer, a relatively safe gas which is a waste by-product of the petroleum industry. It used to be burned off into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, using more PP in products may help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. PP is made up from carbon and hydrogen and is manufactured without any dangerous emissions.

PVC is manufactured with the addition of a plethora of toxic additives, which can make the PVC product itself harmful to consumers. These chemicals can evaporate or leach out of PVC, posing environmental and irreversible life-long health risks to consumers.

PVC’s entire life cycle, from production through use and disposal, has a negative impact on human health and our environment. Not only is PVC inherently dangerous in its basic form, but it also needs a large amount of heavy metals such as lead to stabilise it. Lead is highly toxic both during the life cycle of a product and after its disposal.

There is no lead nor other heavy metals used in the manufacture of Corflute and PROMEG PP sheet. A further problem with flexible PVC is that flexibility and softness must be induced by the addition of a large amount of plasticiser, usually phthalates, at concentrations of 30-50%. These phthalates may have carcinogenic properties in humans. They do this by mimicking the female hormone oestrogen, causing biological imbalances in humans and other species. These plasticisers are mobile by nature and hence migratory.

PP is 100% recyclable. During recycling, PP retains its strength and need not be ‘downcycled’ into only low impact strength items such as flowerpots. Not only are PVC products very difficult to recycle, but they are also far more toxic in production, use and disposal than PP and for that reason, many communities and businesses are phasing out their use. When disposed of in landfill, PVC poses significant long-term environmental threats as chemical additives can leach into groundwater. PVC cannot be effectively recycled due to many different toxic additives used to soften or stabilise PVC, which can contaminate the recycling batch. In fact, just one PVC bottle can contaminate a recycling load of 100,000 PET bottles.

During a fire situation, Corflute and PROMEG polypropylene burns to relatively harmless end products. It gives carbon dioxide and water as the main products, together with carbon monoxide and carbon (soot). When burned PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems.

It is important that a material uses a minimal amount of natural resources, that it does not emit polluting substances, that it fulfills a long working life and optimises aspects of reuse and recycling. PP fits these criteria.

The good news is that a safer, non-toxic, cost-effective alternative to PVC is readily available for virtually every use…
Australian made Corflute® and PROMEG®.

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most neutral plastics containing only two elements: carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).

PP sheet is manufactured from propylene monomer, a relatively safe gas which is a waste by-product of the petroleum industry. It used to be burned off into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, using more PP in products may help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. PP is manufactured without any dangerous emissions.

Polypropylene is an environmentally conscious option that provides a wide range of advantages compared to other materials. It is also a better option than other plastics, because it doesn’t release any toxic chemicals in the recycling process, has a relatively low carbon footprint (it consumes the least amount of energy during production), and is safe to human health.

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Corex is Australia’s exclusive manufacturer of Corflute® and PROMEG®.

We have a specialist range of products and services including polymer engineering, industrial design, printing, and fabrication so that we can offer a one-stop-shop to businesses seeking products made using Corflute® and PROMEG®.

Everything that we make is made to order so that can produce things to your exact specifications.

If you are looking to buy Corflute® or PROMEG® and products made from these plastics, the quality selection we produce is what makes us Australia’s leading plastic manufacturer and supplier.

Contact the team at Corex for more information.

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