Prognos experts carried out one of the most detailed assessments of four PVC products against criteria of environmental, economic and social sustainability. PVC windows, piping, packaging film and cables were assessed in terms of toxic effluent, greenhouse effect, energy consumption and waste disposal costs. Aspects such as occupational safety and the employment impact of the PVC industry were also examined in medium- and long-term scenarios.

Prognos rates the short- and medium-term prospects for PVC windows relatively high and better against alternatives wood and aluminium on the basis of the social impact on employment and low to minimal environmental hazards. In the long term (2050), Prognos predicts a loss of the competitive edge over wood. Decline of petroleum availability or price increases could cause unpredictable changes for plastic materials even if an increase in recycling extends the lifetime of raw material reserves. Petroleum is the raw material of 100% of polyolefins and of 43% of PVC.

For pipes, the forecasts are better for PVC and polyethylene (HDPE) than for stoneware and cast iron. Prospects for PVC cables in the medium term are affected by potential hazard in the event of fire, greater weight and the potential risk presently supposed to be associated with some additives (plasticizers, flame retardants) but more reliable data are said to be required. For packaging, some niche PVC applications are said to be unrivalled (meat packaging) while other plastics can gain in the medium-term.