Conscientious

PVC is an environmental and health nightmare if not produced under the strictest of standards. Under strict standard it is merely a potential environmental hazard during manufacturing and a hazard in landfills.

PVC, is made from chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. These elements are obtained from sea salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and crude oil or natural gas. PVC production involves the use of materials that can be hazardous if improperly handled. The raw material vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is the chief concern.

In the 1970s, the industry and scientists discovered a link between prolonged, high-level exposure to VCM among PVC production workers and a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma. Radical changes to technology and processes were then rapidly introduced to protect the health of workers.

Approximately 200 VCM-related angiosarcoma deaths have been recorded worldwide among VCM/PVC plant workers. No case of angiosarcoma has been identified in any VCM/PVC production worker employed after the introduction of the revised processing technology in the mid to late 1970s. There has been one death in Australia. The worker was employed at a New South Wales production site at Botany, now closed. This kind of data is not available from China or the developing world.

When PVC is burnt or incinerated, the major products are carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen chloride and metal chlorides. Hydrogen chloride is an acidic gas which must be removed from the emissions of waste incinerators. In Australian and developed countries this would be done, but there it is less likely in the developed world.

Phthalate plasticisers have been accused of harming reproduction. Recent research has shown no ‘significant’ effects on the female hormone, oestrogen. Research has turned instead to the possibility of androgenic effects (i.e. effects on the male hormone).

Very little cadmium is used in PVC product manufacture in Australia but may be overseas. There is lead in hard PVC but not in PVC which would be used in shoes and clothing.

PVC does not degrade in landfill. Minute quantities of metal stabilisers may leach from PVC in landfill.

Tope is a synthetic fabric alternative to a vinyl canvas or products such as wallets and jackets that are leather or PVC. Tope contains NO PVC or other toxic chemicals but is made from non-toxic raw materials (it causes no dioxin, heavy metal or phthalate pollution). It biodegradable, vegan and animal free.

For more info.

http://tribute.dbclay.com/tope/

Vegan Bomber Jacket made from Tope

http://thediscerningbrute.com/2008/01/18/vegan-bomber-jacket/

Spandex (US), Elastane and Lycra® (Aus) are all the same synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is stronger and more durable than rubber. It was invented in 1959 by DuPont and revolutionized fashion.

Lycra consists of rigid and flexible segments in the polymer chain. The flexible segments give the fibre the stretch and the rigid segments hold the chain together.

Fibres are produced in four different ways including melt extrusion, reaction spinning, solution dry spinning, and solution wet spinning. All of these methods include the initial step of reacting monomers to produce a prepolymer. Once the prepolymer is formed it is reacted further in various ways and drawn out to produce a long fiber. The solution dry spinning method is used to produce over 90% of the world's Lycra.

The issues with Lycra are that it is very energy hungry to produce and that it is not biodegradable. However, it has revolutionized fabric and whilst I don’t recommend wearing Olivia Newtown-Jon Lycra pants, Lycra should be considered okay in small proportions of blends for denim and sportswear as it will help them keep their shape and wear longer. 5% Lycra may be enough to do the trick.

Stay away from 100% Lycra or any synthetic blends in non-essential fashion, as it will prevent the outfit biodegrading.