Increasing\nthe Recycling of PVC Flooring Requires\nPhthalate Removal for Ensuring Consumers’ Safety: A Cross-Checked\nSubstance Flow Analysis of Plasticizers for Switzerland

As our planet grapples\nwith the severe repercussions of plastic\npollution, mechanical recycling has been proposed as a potential remedy.\nHowever, increasing mechanical recycling may have unintended negative\nconsequences. For example, recycling of PVC flooring containing hazardous\nplasticizers that were used in the past may lead to continued exposure.\nHere we propose measures to increase recycling while circumventing\nadverse health impacts caused by legacy additives. For this, we conduct\na dynamic substance flow analysis for Switzerland and the time period\nfrom 1950 to 2100, focusing on three plasticizers: di(2-ethylhexyl)\nphthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), and di(2-ethylhexyl)\nterephthalate (DEHT). We quantify the uncertainty of results, check\ntheir plausibility against measured concentrations in samples representative\nfor the Swiss market, and compare them with modeled substance flows\nin Germany. Based on the cross-checked model, future average concentrations\nof DEHP in PVC flooring on the Swiss market are expected to be above\nthe legal limit of 0.1 wt % for several decades if increased recycling\nrates are implemented without additional measures. Phasing out the\npotentially concerning DiNP, too, and preventing phthalates from entering\nrecycling would lower their average market concentrations to values\nbelow 0.1 wt % and enable increasing recycling rates without compromising\nproduct safety. Analogous measures could help achieve this goal across\nother European countries and product groups.