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Welcome to the PVC Committee of The Polymer Society

The PVC Committee's activities will be of interest to:

  • Those who are involved in any aspects of Polyvinyl Chloride through its life cycle and who wish to see the many unique properties of this versatile polymer to be exploited and developed to the full.

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  • Those who wish to know more about this extremely cost effective polymer in relation to formulations, processing, end-use applications and sustainability.

Aims and objectives

PVC Conference

PVC 2008 confirmed that the Brighton Conference continues to be the World’s largest and most reputable conference, supporting the future of PVC across the world through information, education, debate and discussion.


Even higher standards were set with the quality of presentations and debate generated from over 70 papers in the magnificent venue of the Brighton Dome. With over 450 delegates attending from the UK, Mainland Europe, North and South America and the Middle and Far East, PVC 2008 has been described as “the best Brighton Conference to date”


PVC 2011 will continue to focus on presenting a full and varied programme of papers to capture how PVC continues to develop, meeting business and sustainability challenges and to inspire innovation across its vast range of applications.


PVC 2011 is arranged by PVC professionals for the PVC industry and organised by IOM Communications Ltd on behalf of the Polymer Society, a division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the British Plastics Federation. The event is also supported by the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers and the Packaging and Films Association. 

Regional Meetings

To assist local societies in arranging PVC related topics for the evening lecture programme. Target is to average one lecture per year somewhere in the UK.

Department of Materials, Loughborough University
To assist in the organisation, promotion and participation in the Current Trends in PVC Technology conference. This conference, with a more academic focus, is held every three years and runs 18 months after the Brighton conference.

Education Initiative 

The committee aims to generate one education initiative, funded or partially funded by IOM3, every three years which will assist to educate and promote particular aspects of polymers (including PVC) and materials.

The latest project is based at The Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, UK. "Fantastic Plastics" is a project designed to increase public understanding of the role of medical plastics – in particular PVC - and the issues surrounding them. There is currently a display in the Museum’s permanent galleries and a web resource is being developed. The gallery display features a fascinating interactive exhibit, enabling users to experience at first hand use of medical plastics in a surgical context, again with emphasis on the use of PVC. The website educational resources will animate the issues around use of medical plastics, encouraging more in-depth exploration and debate. Previous education initiatives have focussed on web based learning resources covering Hazard and Risk and Sustainability.