Archives: News

Water Infrastructure The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is examining ways to better prepare for extreme weather events and the potential effects of climate change. The independent, nonpartisan agency is recommending that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identify technical assistance providers and engage them in a...

The phrase “plastics are everywhere” can be perceived as either a lament of the anti-plastics crowd or the rallying cry of those who see the vast societal benefits of plastics in everyday lives. It can also refer to the number of plastics-related bills at the...

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) unveiled its 2020 housing forecast data at the Leading Suppliers Council meeting  that took place at the International Builders Show (IBS) in January. Billed as “Crosswinds for Housing,” the data reveal mixed messages: some hopeful signs for the...

In November, I, along with several Vinyl Institute staff headed to Atlanta for Greenbuild, the largest green building show worldwide. This is one of my favorite shows to attend each year because it really helps foster the opportunity for collaboration and meet people across a...

Recycling There has been significant movement on some of the many recycling bills in Congress. The Senate amended and passed S. 1982, the Save our Seas 2.0 (SOS 2.0) Act by voice vote on Jan. 13. The bill sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sheldon...

At this year’s Vinyl360 annual meeting, the Vinyl Institute (VI) partnered with GreenCircle Certified, a third-party sustainability verification body, to conduct a waste diversion audit. The VI worked with Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa staff to ensure that as much waste as possible...

At Greenbuild this year, the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool was launched by the Carbon Leadership Forum. This new tool takes lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to estimate a product’s embodied carbon emissions. The goal of the tool is to...

Congress returned this week from recess to start the second session of the 116th Congress.  The Senate Finance Committee is moving forward with its scheduled Jan. 7 “markup” of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) implementing legislation (H.R. 5430). Prior to recess, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell...