Fortunately, heat transfer vinyl differs from conventional craft vinyl in toxicity. Because heat transfer vinyl is designed for apparel, it is held to different standards than conventional craft vinyl. Clothing with vinyl that is intended to be worn close to the skin or for young children and infants must meet rigorous demands for safety, making it the safer and less toxic choice. Even though there’s currently no PVC-free vinyl, there is a brand of craft vinyl that is more eco-friendly. Stahls’ Heat Transfer Vinyl Secondly, the machine user risks exposure to chlorine gas discharged during the cutting process. This gas is poisonous and an irritant that can cause severe damage to both the upper and lower respiratory organs. For perspective, this was a gas used in World War I.

System of a Down - Toxicity - (CD, Vinyl LP) | Rough Trade

Here in the United States, it’s legal to pollute,” said Schade. “Unfortunately, our federal chemical safety system has failed to protect American communities and workers from exposure to cancer-causing chemicals like vinyl chloride.” Vinyl plastic products expose children and all of us to harmful chemical additives such as phthalates, lead, cadmium and organotins — all substances of very high concern. The disposal of PVC waste in landfills and incinerators release dioxins and furans, which are chemicals that have been targeted for international phase-out by over 170 nations around the world. When PVC burns in accidental fires, dioxin and other dangerous chemicals are released posing deadly hazards to building occupants and firefighters. I like to see you find a fire(unintentional or not) that does not release deadly toxins. I do believe Vinyl may not be completely sustainable but the upkeep of a product should be viewed as a reason to use. Vinyl products have almost no upkeep when used unlike other types of products. The cost of initial and upkeep down road is much lower than most other types. I for one would prefer to have the lower cost with "some frootprint" then a huge cost that won't make a difference in energy in the future. Toxic-Free Future’s report found that, of the 373,262 US residents that live within three miles of a vinyl chloride, PVC manufacturing or PVC waste disposal facility, 63 per cent are people of colour. The report also found that these residents earn 37 per cent below the national average and 27 per cent are children, compared to the national average of 22 per cent – infants and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals.Communities of colour and low-income communities face pollution as well as serious risks associated with accidents and explosions day in and day out in places like Cancer Alley. Sadly, they don’t get quite the attention this derailment has gotten,” says Schade.

Toxic vinyl chloride is a widespread environmental injustice Toxic vinyl chloride is a widespread environmental injustice

Vinyl crafts are one of the hottest new hobbies in the craft market. Using different types of vinyl sheets, crafters can make unique designs for use on glass, wood, shirts, jerseys, pillows, bags and just about anything else they can dream up. Needless to say, plastics are a global nightmare, especially in the fight for an entirely green planet, as most of them are non-biodegradable. When it comes to grading toxicity of plastic, vinyl ranks as one of the most noxious plastics.

By coincidence, the first person I met in Bangkok was a retired Belgian petrochemical engineer. He was surprised when I told him not only that vinyl record sales had been increasing since 2005 but that the recording industry still used what he saw as a grimy and outmoded material. But he knew one thing for sure: TPC was not going to let me see how PVC is made. He was right.

Vinyl: The Poison Plastic — Workgroup for Safe Markets Vinyl: The Poison Plastic — Workgroup for Safe Markets

Unseld adds: “Every step of the fossil fuel plastics lifestyle is deadly, so bans on individual chemicals and products won’t be enough because they’ll just replace it with something else. That’s why they moved lead out of paint into plastic toys.” She says fossil fuel companies will continue to scrape the barrel for chemicals – especially once energy is decarbonised – to create plastic. PVC plastic also emits phthalates , which are a toxin that has been identified as a carcinogen and may present health concerns. In vinyl, phthalates are used as a plasticizer to improve durability, flexibility, longevity and transparency. Unseld says tied up in the PVC problem is racism, classism and monopoly capitalism. She points out that many of the big US stores only sell bedsheets that contain plastic, meaning many people on lower incomes do not have a choice over the chemicals they expose themselves to. Then, she adds, “you have the fact that these chemicals should not be on the market anyway”.It is not surprising that craft vinyl is all the rage right now. It is gorgeous, inexpensive, durable, water-resistant, versatile, and accessible material.