PVC is produced from salt ( 57 %) and petroleum (43 %).   Its dependence on petroleum is, therefore, smaller than for other plastics. The manufacture of the totality of plastics represents 4% of the world consumption of petroleum, of which only 0.5% corresponds to PVC.

As salt is a very plentiful raw material and the consumption of petroleum for the manufacture of PVC is very moderate, PVC consequently has a great advantage over other polymers and other materials as it contributes to a better use of natural resources.

Studies performed on the incidence of PVC on the Environment, show an ecological balance that is favourable to this plastic material when compared with traditional materials and other plastics.

Although the proportion of plastics may seem important in volume, it hardly reaches 0.7% of the weight of the total domestic waste collected in Europe each year .

Objects made from PVC remain in a very stable state in dumps; even in the case that part of the plasticisers should transfer from the superficial layers of Soft PVC, they would bio-degrade by 90% within 30 days. It must also be mentioned that the insulation of the bottom of certain dumps is guaranteed by layers of plasticised PVC.

However, the dumping of PVC in dumps cannot be considered a solution. Recycling or thermal recovery is preferred.