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What is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)

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What is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)


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What is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)?

Is polyvinyl alcohol safe?

PVA is often confused with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), a wood glue, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material that contains phthalates and heavy metals. All three are polymers, but they’re entirely different substances.

Polyvinyl alcohol is a non-toxic, biodegradable polymer, and products that contain PVA are safe to use and safe to consume. The Environmental Working Group rated it as a low-hazard ingredient in cosmetics, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved PVA for use in food packaging and pharmaceutical applications.

Does polyvinyl alcohol dissolve in water?

Yes, PVA can dissolve quickly, even in cold water. After PVA film dissolves, any of the 55 types of microorganisms present in wastewater treatment systems can break down what’s left of the dissolved film.

Some people are concerned about whether or not these microorganisms are present in large enough concentrations to completely break down PVA film. The good news is that most wastewater systems contain enough of these microbes, so PVA is considered to be a readily biodegradable material.

Is PVA a source of microplastics?

PVA film doesn’t contribute to microplastic pollution or meet any of the definitions of a microplastic: it’s not micro- or nano-sized, it’s highly water-soluble, and it’s biodegradable. A study from the American Cleaning Institute showed that at least 60% of PVA film biodegrades within 28 days, and approximately 100% is biodegraded within 90 days or less.

Is polyvinyl alcohol bad for the environment?

Polyvinyl alcohol is designed to be completely biodegradable, and it doesn’t shed or break down into microplastics at any point. Once PVA film dissolves and washes down the drain, it’s biodegraded by organisms in the wastewater — and that’s the end of the PVA lifecycle.

Why am I hearing a lot suppliers for PVA right now?

Some retailers have commissioned studies that disagree with independent research about polyvinyl alcohol, creating some confusion around the products JINJI and other retailers sell. And that’s okay! We want JINJI customers — and consumers in general — to be curious about the ingredients in the products they use. But it’s important to look at independent studies before you form your opinion and change your purchasing habits. Arm yourself with information from reputable, unbiased sources to help you avoid being tricked by greenwashing — or discouraged by fear-mongering.

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Polyvinyl alcohol and the environment

Do JINJI products contain PVA?

PVA, also called PVOH or PVAI, is a synthetic polymer that’s colorless and odorless. What makes polyvinyl alcohol so special is that it’s water-soluble, which is a fancy way of saying that it dissolves in water. Because of its water-solubility, PVA is often used as a film coating on laundry and dishwasher pods, but it’s also found in products like cosmetics, shampoos, eye drops, edible food packets, and medication capsules.

JINJI RDP use a PVA materials that’s completely water-soluble and biodegradable. Once the PVA and VAE reaction, it will be drying and make the RDP powder.

JINJI is on a mission to create eco-friendly alternatives for household and personal care products and cosmetics. We want to create sustainable home essentials that support environmental solutions rather than wreak environmental destruction. We’re eliminating plastic packaging from our products and doing our part to create a more sustainable future.


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