Search | SAICM Knowledge

Article

Built Environment Journal: Why we must limit use of construction plastics

July 2023

Plastics are used in a vast range of building components, such as seals, windows and doors, roofing, internal and external finishes, paints, panels, varnishes, stains, pipes, guttering, cables, floor coverings, membranes, formwork, supporting structures, building skins and insulation. However, their benefits come at a growing cost to the environment and public health.

The construction industry consumes 20% of all plastics and 70% of all polyvinyl chloride (PVC) produced globally each year. Exponentially greater amounts are being produced and used, with 8.3bn tonnes of virgin plastics produced worldwide between 1950 and 2017 and global output predicted to double by 2050.

The transition to sustainable construction will involve fundamental changes in the way buildings are designed, manufactured, built and operated. As society pushes up against established planetary boundaries, professionals working in the built environment need to identify how to change our practice.

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/saicm-manual-supports-eco-innovation-electronics-sector

SAICM Manual Supports Eco-innovation in Electronics Sector

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) has published a supplement on the electronics sector

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/webinar-outlines-efforts-address-plastic-pollution-mountain-regions

Webinar Outlines Efforts to Address Plastic Pollution in Mountain Regions

Eliminating releases of plastic in mountainous regions was the focus of a webinar convened by Austria

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/oecd-surveys-willingness-pay-avoid-health-impacts-chemical-exposure

OECD Surveys Willingness to Pay to Avoid Health Impacts of Chemical Exposure

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has surveyed willingness to pay (WTP) to establish

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/unep-report-presents-guidelines-evaluate-alternatives-highly-hazardous-pesticides

UNEP Report Presents Guidelines to Evaluate Alternatives to Highly Hazardous Pesticides

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published guidelines for evaluating alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs)

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/unep-reports-current-state-knowledge-chemicals-plastics

UNEP Reports on Current State of Knowledge on Chemicals in Plastics

Chemicals in plastics must be addressed as part of ongoing global action to combat plastic pollution

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/forum-aims-pollution-free-planet-supports-preparations-iccm5

Forum Aims for Pollution-free Planet, Supports Preparations for ICCM5

An international forum brought together stakeholders to foster a shared understanding of key priorities regarding chemicals

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/german-pavilion-opens-discuss-chemical-related-challenges-iccm5

German Pavilion Opens to Discuss Chemical-related Challenges at ICCM5

Focusing on practical implementation, with the aim of providing inspiration and applied solutions to chemical-related challenges

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/iccm5-side-events-focus-mercury-exposure-gold-mining-poison-centers

ICCM5 Side Events Focus on Mercury Exposure in Gold Mining, Poison Centers

Side events, held on the sidelines of the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), addressed

https://saicmknowledge.org/articles/first-ever-chemicals-and-waste-youth-forum-meets-during-iccm5

First-ever Chemicals and Waste Youth Forum Meets During ICCM5

Children and young people are hurt the most and often heard the least with respect to