What OTA is Doing:

It is now evident that phasing vinyl out of construction materials is critical to minimizing the dangers of PCB and dioxin contamination around the globe. This is why OTA is leading the Vinyl Out of Oregon campaign. We are taking strategic action to shift the construction industry away from vinyl use and towards healthy and environmentally sound building materials.

Our goal is to make vinyl obsolete in Oregon by advocating for alternative purchasing policies in construction that are vinyl-free.

When major construction projects commit to purchasing vinyl-free materials, there will be an ever-growing demand for safer, alternative building supplies. As more orders are placed for alternatives to vinyl and more manufacturers realize that profits can be made from manufacturing these alternatives, the result will be a permanent shift in the marketplace.

An example of marketplace shift taking place is the model of Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, an organization committed to vinyl-free construction. They have placed large orders for vinyl-free carpeting and flooring which, in turn, has motivated large carpet manufacturers to seek out non-toxic carpet construction. A recent press release from Healthy Building Network illustrates the power of marketplace shift:

“Responding to Kaiser Permanente's challenge to develop a PVC-free carpet that can meet the health care giant's exacting environmental and performance standards, Collins & Aikman (C&A) introduced a new carpet line, which uses an alternative plastic material for the carpet backing. In addition to C&A's announcement at NeoCon, the premier commercial interiors event in North America, Shaw committed to end all production of PVC-backed carpet this year.” (Chicago, 6/14/2004)

OTA Introduces VOO at the Green Building Council International Conference:

Because over seventy percent of all vinyl is manufactured for use in building construction, OTA is seeking partnerships with Oregon design and construction industries as essential to the elimination of vinyl. Currently, we are coordinating with our allies to create an effective and dynamic presence at the upcoming 2004 annual Conference and International Expo of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to be held this coming November in Portland, Oregon. Our goal is to convince key decision-makers in green building policy as well as in the design and construction sectors who will be attending the USGBC Conference to build without vinyl and thereby divert the marketplace demand for this product. The USGBC recently took public comment on the question of whether they should incorporate credits for vinyl-free building materials as part of their LEED Standards. The debate is still on, and the Vinyl Institute, an industry public relations organization, continues to be very visible about their intention to thwart such efforts. We believe that, with a strong media presence at the November conference showcasing the VOO endorsement from Oregon Fire Fighters, OTA will help convince the USGBC to adopt credit guidelines for vinyl-free building.

Can We Really Eliminate Vinyl?:

OTA’s objective is entirely achievable. In the United States, municipalities including Portland, Seattle, New York and San Francisco are developing policies to reduce the use of vinyl. A number of multinational companies including Nike, Mattel, General Motors Automotive, Volkswagen, and Honda have agreed to phase out vinyl from their product lines. Dozens of major building projects like the 2000 Sydney Olympics have reduced their use of vinyl in favor of healthier alternatives. The University of Oregon just completed their Lillis School of Business, a state-of-the-art building which is completely free of vinyl-PVC. Fire fighters across the nation are advocating for vinyl-free fire stations.

It is time to bring this grassroots action to Oregon with a campaign to phase out vinyl with our VINYL OUT OF OREGON CAMPAIGN!.