Plastics — PVC
Materials High Confidence
Carbon Cost Index Score
2 kgCO₂e / per kg
Per kg
2 kgCO₂e / kg
Methodology v1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-04-08
Scope Breakdown
| Scope | kgCO₂e | % of Total | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0.4 | 20% | |
| Scope 2 | 0.3 | 15% | |
| Scope 3 | 1.3 | 65% | |
| Total | 2 | 100% |
Emission Hotspots
| Emission Hotspot | Scope | Est. % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| VCM production (ethylene oxychlorination and cracking) | S3 | 45% |
| Chlorine production (chlor-alkali electrolysis) | S3 | 20% |
| PVC polymerization (suspension or emulsion) | S2 | 13% |
| Ethylene feedstock production | S3 | 12% |
| Compounding, pelletizing, and transport | S1 | 10% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- China, USA, EU (Germany, Belgium), India
- Grid Intensity
- 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China)
Material Composition Assumptions
The default reference product is 1 kg of suspension PVC (S-PVC) resin powder:
- Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM): ~100% of polymer mass. Produced by thermal cracking of ethylene dichloride (EDC), which is made by oxychlorination of ethylene with chlorine and HCl.
- Chlorine content: PVC is unique among commodity plastics in that ~57% of its mass comes from chlorine (derived from salt/brine via electrolysis) rather than petroleum. This reduces its petroleum feedstock dependency.
- Additives: PVC resin requires compounding with stabilizers (calcium-zinc or organotin), plasticizers (for flexible PVC, DINP or DOTP), fillers (CaCO3), and lubricants before processing.
PVC is the world’s third most produced plastic (~45 million tonnes/year). Applications include pipes and fittings (~40%), window profiles, cable insulation, flooring, and medical devices.
Manufacturing Geography
PVC production is strongly regional:
- China: ~45% of global capacity, primarily calcium carbide route (coal-based) and ethylene-based.
- USA: Ethylene-based (Westlake, Shintech, Oxy Vinyls). Gulf Coast production.
- EU: Ethylene-based (INEOS, Inovyn, Vinnolit).
- India: Growing capacity, both routes.
China’s calcium carbide–based VCM route (from coal) has approximately 40-60% higher emissions than the ethylene-based route used in the US and EU, significantly raising the global average.
Regional Variation
| Production Region | Route | Estimated Score (per kg) | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global average (default) | Mixed | 2.0 kgCO2e | Baseline |
| USA (ethylene) | Ethylene/oxy | 1.8 kgCO2e | -10% |
| EU (ethylene) | Ethylene/oxy | 1.9 kgCO2e | -5% |
| China (ethylene) | Ethylene/oxy | 2.2 kgCO2e | +10% |
| China (carbide) | Coal-based | 3.0-3.5 kgCO2e | +55% |
Provenance Override Guidance
- EPD for the specific PVC compound or product.
- Production route: Ethylene-based vs. calcium carbide route is the most critical variable.
- VinylPlus certification: European PVC industry sustainability commitment with recycling and emissions tracking.
- Recycled content: Mechanically recycled PVC is commercially available for pipe and profile applications.
Methodology Notes
- CCI score of 2 kgCO2e/kg is a conservative global average. PlasticsEurope reports 1.9-2.2 kgCO2e/kg for EU S-PVC. The score accounts for the higher-emission Chinese carbide route in the global mix.
- Scope breakdown: Scope 3 at 65% (1.3 kgCO2e/kg) from VCM production, chlorine electrolysis, and ethylene feedstock. Scope 1 at 20% (0.4 kgCO2e/kg). Scope 2 at 15% (0.3 kgCO2e/kg).
- Confidence: High — well-documented with PlasticsEurope, ECVM, and ACC data.
- Functional unit: 1 kg of S-PVC resin (uncompounded), cradle to gate.
- Compounding note: The CCI score covers resin only. Compounded PVC (with plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers) has additional upstream emissions from additive production, typically adding 0.3-0.8 kgCO2e/kg depending on formulation.
Related Concepts
Related Categories
Sources
- PlasticsEurope (2015) — Eco-profiles: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) — Suspension Grade. Reports cradle-to-gate GWP of approximately 1.9-2.2 kgCO2e/kg for S-PVC resin.
- European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM, 2020) — PVC sustainability and lifecycle data. Documents VCM and PVC production environmental profiles including energy intensity and emissions.
- American Chemistry Council (2017) — Cradle-to-Gate LCI of Nine Plastic Resins. Reports PVC at approximately 1.8 kgCO2e/kg for US production.
- Euro Chlor (2018) — Chlor-alkali industry environmental data. Electrolysis energy consumption of approximately 2,100-2,500 kWh/t Cl2 for membrane cells.
- IEA (2024) — Emissions Factors 2024. Grid intensities for major chemical production regions.