Flexible PVC September 22, 2019
Sport

As PVC.org points out, PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world and six percent or more of the material is used in the consumer goods category of products. Some of the physical properties of PVC that make it such a versatile product are:

  • PVC has high chemical and mechanical stabilities.
  • PVC possess fire retardant capabilities.
  • PVC is durable.
  • PVC resists oils and chemicals.
  • PVC can be molded and shaped.

In the sporting goods realm, the durability and the mold-ability of the material are most desirable. More specifically, the flexible PVC that is used in sporting shoes requires that it be formed into a shape that fits the foot. As for sporting equipment, most items are exposed to a lot of physical stress. PVC is so durable, it can stand up to all of the impact it receives.

When you put on a new pair of sports shoes, there is a good chance that the soles and uppers are made of flexible PVC. PVC as a shoe material is a cost-effective alternative to leather but it also allows for “innovative styles through its capacity to be molded into a shape,” as PVC.org points out. Sports shoes, like those used for running and on the basketball court, also make extensive use of flexible PVC to provide shock absorbance, support and strength in demanding use environments.” Next time you are in the sporting goods store trying on new shoes, take a close look at the label.

Flexible PVC is found everywhere throughout a sporting goods store, not just in the shoe section. PVC.org lists some of the sports where the sporting equipment uses PVC “ranging from football and rugby, to golf and sailing.” That’s a pretty eclectic mix, attesting to poly vinyl chloride’s versatility.

Aside from its practical purposes, flexible PVC also has some environmental perks as well when it comes to sporting goods. That means that consumers who buy sporting goods made from the plastic can rest assured they are not harming the planet.

More specifically, in comparison to other competing materials, PVC “makes the most of valuable resources by using the minimum amount of raw materials and energy during manufacture and processing.” It is more lightweight, more durable and more adaptable than ever before, product for product, PVC uses “proportionally less of the world’s oil and energy resources… with lower overall impact on the environment.”