Because of Vinyl

Letter to the editor Copyright 1998 Washington Post November 13, 1998

The Oct. 15 letter by Rick Hind of Greenpeace mischaracterized the vinyl industry.

The vinyl industry operates under strict government regulations and has an enviable safety record. Emissions from its plants continue to decrease. The ingredients used to make vinyl products are regulated by a number of agencies and are constantly reevaluated in the light of new science. Moreover, the industry has in place both industry-wide and individual corporate programs that focus on health, safety and the environment.

Greenpeace calls for vinyl substitutes, yet overlooks the potential health and environmental impact of those products (which the group often admits it hasn't studied) and ignores performance issues such as length of service, maintenance concerns and raw material usage -- all of which can have a negative impact on the environment.

The group also ignores a marketplace reality. Vinyl has replaced other materials in countless products because it lasts longer, performs better, costs less and does the job better. Because of vinyl, water delivery is more reliable, health care is of higher quality, food is fresher and electrical service is safer.

MARK A. SOFMAN
Manager, Industry Affairs
The Vinyl Institute
Morristown, N.J.

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