Building a clean, sustainable future

Polluting building products like PVC plastic (Vinyl) are promoted by industry as low cost solutions for housing. However PVC is the most environmentally damaging of all plastics. There are alternatives to PVC plastic and other harmful materials and building processes. Greenpeace USA has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and other groups to help create a project that shows first-hand a low-cost solution to PVC in home building. We are building a house that is both PVC-free and replicable for low-income families. Among other green features the home is free of toxic materials, contains sustainable wood and the construction site is solar powered.



Habitat for Humanity builds low cost housing for families on low incomes. Shylia and her four children will be the happy new owners of a home that is a healthy environment to raise her family in. Volunteers from Greenpeace, other organisations and local students are all pitching in to lend a hand in the construction project. Their efforts are being documented on a weblog diary of the project.

The first few days involved a crash course in construction for the keen, but maybe slightly novice, builders from construction manager Valerie "Miss T" Smith and construction supervisor Billy "The Cowboy" Pucket. Apparently "flushing" isn't just something you do to a toilet, "stud" is not just a hot guy and "toenail" isn't just a part of your body.

The hot weather meant frequent breaks for the volunteers but allowed the Greenpeace rolling sunlight vehicle to power the construction site. The two meter solar panels have been providing clean juice for the variety of power tools such as the giant electrical clippers.



Cancer Alley

The house will be finished towards the end of April. This project is especially relevant as the industrial corridor stretching from Baton Rouge south to New Orleans along the Mississippi River, commonly known as "Cancer Alley," is home to more than 140 petrochemical producers and users. This is one of the highest concentration of manufacturers, users and emitters of toxic chemicals in the US. Many of these plants are the most polluting types in the world - PVC production facilities. No longer is this the romanticised waterway that Mark Twain popularised in 'The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'.

Many of these PVC plants and old dumpsites are located in poor communities, most often in communities of colour. People living next to these facilities are experiencing illnesses that they directly attribute to toxic air and water emissions. In some cases, entire communities have been literally wiped off the map.


Promoting Poisons

While Shylia and her children can't wait for the house to be finished not everyone is so happy. The Vinyl Institute, the trade association of vinyl manufacturers, wrote to Habitat for Humanity International in February, criticizing the New Orleans affiliate for working with Greenpeace on this project. Why? Well, rather than address the pollution caused by PVC manufacture and the problems caused in local communities, the institute's members prefer the easy option of donating the same poison plastic to the very people who suffer from the pollution.

Actually the Vinyl Institute decided to pay the project a surprise visit in the shape of Jim Kosinski. Rick, our toxic campaigner, noticed Jim wondering around the site taking pictures. Being the friendly, curious guy he is, Rick approached our unannounced guest to find out what he was doing. After a gentle inquisition our guest turn out to be a project manager from the Vinyl Institute who apparently was "just in the neighbourhood" and "curious" to drop in on the project.

Never afraid of a healthy debate, Rick invited Jim to join a press conference to give the industry view on PVC. But unfortunately Jim "had a plane to catch".

The only way to end the production of this poison plastic is to show that practical affordable alternatives exist. Shylia's home is testament to that fact; let's ensure it is the first of many.

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Discover where PVC may be found in your home.

Detailed info on PVC.