Frequently Asked Questions:
Aspire Vinyl™ Bio-Based, Flexible Compounds by Axiall
1. How are the new bio-based compounds different from the compounds I’m
currently using?
Aspire Vinyl bio-based compounds offer equal or improved performance at the same price as
traditional compounds, while providing a more sustainable alternative for a variety of
consumer and industrial end-use products. They are phthalate-free and contain bio-based
plasticizers derived from renewable resources. They are also free from heavy metals due to
the use of organic-based stabilizers.
2. What does the term bio-based mean?
The term bio-based refers to the plasticizers used in Aspire Vinyl flexible compounds which
are made from non-petroleum based feedstock.
3. Do the new bio-based compounds perform as well as the compounds I’m currently
using? Have they been adequately tested?
Aspire Vinyl bio-based compounds provide improved performance over traditional compounds
and are designed to enable our customers to meet their sustainability, product performance
and economic goals with no compromise in product quality or processability.
Physical property comparisons of the bio-based compounds & phthalate-based compounds
reveal improved performance in the following key areas:
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•
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Low temperature properties
Dynamic thermal stability and color hold
Outdoor weatherability
4. Do the new bio-based compounds cost more than the compounds I’m currently
using?
No. Aspire Vinyl bio-based compounds offer improved performance at a price that is equal to
its traditional non-sustainable counterparts.
5. Isn’t PVC harmful to the environment? Are the new compounds better for the
environment than the existing compounds?
Recent advancements in the development of phthalate-free, bio-based vinyl compounds are
gaining national attention as businesses and consumers alike are increasingly focused on
sustainability and corporate responsibility.
However, vinyl possesses significant sustainability credentials that reach far beyond bio-based
plasticizers and organic stabilizers. Vinyl is actually composed of naturally occurring elements
-- chlorine derived from common salt (57%) and oil (43%) – making it far less oil-dependent
than other major thermoplastics. Viewed across its lifecycle, vinyl is a highly competitive
material in terms of environmental impact. Recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies show
that, in many cases, vinyl shows advantages in terms of total energy consumption and lower
CO2 emissions.1
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Aspire Vinyl™ Bio-Based, Flexible Compounds by Axiall:
But, the strongest aspects of vinyl are performance and cost. Vinyl products are affordable and
can positively contribute to all areas of sustainable development. Studies show decisive cost
advantages not just in its low initial purchase price, but also in its low cost of ownership
throughout the whole product lifespan due its unmatched durability and low maintenance
requirements.2
6. How can Aspire Vinyl™ compounds help my organization achieve its sustainability
goals? Can Axiall help us educate our customers about the benefits of bio-based
vinyl?
Aspire Vinyl bio-based compounds offer a more sustainable alternative for a variety of
consumer and industrial end use products that can benefit from a non-phthalate solution. Axiall
is committed to ongoing research & development of sustainable compounds and to ensuring
our customer’s success through education and long-term, collaborative partnerships.
7. Is Axiall planning to change or discontinue its existing line of vinyl compounds?
Are the phthalates in the existing compounds harmful?
No. Axiall will continue to offer its complete line of vinyl compounds to our customers.
While there has been much controversy surrounding the effects of phthalates, it is important to
note that phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied family of compounds in the world,
and they have a long history of safe use. An immense amount of information on the safety
profiles of various phthalates is available to the public at
http://phthalates.americanchemistry.com/Phthalates-Basics/Questions-Answers.3
Axiall is committed to ongoing research and development to ensure our products strike a
balance between environmental stewardship, sustained economic performance and the desired
amenities of a modern society with human safety and progress.
References:
Life Cycle Assessment of PVC and of Principal Competing Materials [2004 Report from the European
Commission]
Vinyl Plus (www.vinylplus.eu; www.pvc.org)
American Chemistry Council (www.americanchemistry.com