Internorm, which began producing PVC windows as early as 1963, has been working with German chemicals conglomerate BASF. The Austrian firm, which was expected to start showing its new product this month, has predicted the cost of the new window would be little more than regular PVC equivalents.
Although Internorm is active in central Europe, it has no outlets in the UK. However, other PVC window fabricators are widely rumoured to be investigating whether extruding could be modified to avoid the growing environmental debate. One major UK manufacturer has even investigated using reconstituted wood.
Accusations about dioxin emissions and heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead) allegedly used in PVC manufacture have characterised attacks by environmental campaigners, notably Greenpeace.
Despite the accusations, no country has responded with a ban. Even Sweden, where the powerful anti-PVC lobby forced a parliamentary debate on its phase-out, then saw ministers stall on ending its use. Environmentalists claim limited victory in the Netherlands where public construction projects specify PVC as a “last choice”.
The real pressure on manufacturers comes not from national bans but from regional and local councils across Europe independently launching anti-PVC policies, such as the Norwegian city of Bergen which has chosen to phase out use of PVC in all public buildings. Internorm faces similarly-minded authorities in Austria.
In Britain, several local authority housing departments and housing associations have adopted a PVC-as-last-choice policy, although not necessarily due to environmental concerns. Local authorities reluctant to specify PVC include Carlisle, Gateshead, Teignbridge, Bury St Edmunds and Newhaven.
In market sale, housebuilders have been switching in ever-greater numbers to PVC due to consumer pressure for its widely perceived benefit of low-maintenance.
Source
Building Homes
