Through a variety of extrusion, calendering and molding processes, vinyl is used in products as rigid as pipe or as flexible as upholstery and food wrap. Because it is less than half petroleum, vinyl is the most energy-efficient plastic. And because it has been used for more than a half century, it is one of the world's most analyzed and tested materials. Vinyl comes from salt, an inexpensive, renewable resource. Vinyl products consume less energy, generate fewer emissions and save more energy than many competitive products.
Most vinyl products are durable and long-lived.
Vinyl's Uses Vinyl is especially widely-used in construction, in products like water pipe, house siding, window frames, gutters and downspouts, floor tile, electrical wire and cable insulation and wall coverings. Rigid vinyl film is widely used in the blister and clamshell packaging that protects hardware items. Vinyl bottles store everything from peanut butter and cooking oil to shampoo, lighter fluid and motor oil. Vinyl is used in parts for appliances, computers and automobiles, in fiber optics and electronics, as well as in consumer and institutional goods like shower curtains, window blinds, garden hoses, footwear and credit cards. Vinyl's medical uses include blister packaging for pharmaceuticals, blood bags, heart catheters, tubing and surgical gloves.