Increased media and public interest spurred the creation of the Vinyl News Service (VNS) Web site, which provides current news about vinyl, vinyl products and related applications. VNS is a service of the Vinyl Institute, a U.S. trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl and vinyl products.

Vinyl was developed in the early part of the 20th century, and has proven to be one of the most versatile materials. In a rigid form, it is used to make PVC pipe, a durable material to transport water and safely remove sewage. Use vinyl resin in a flexible format and you can produce blood bags, IV bags and tubing to save lives in hospitals. It is one of the most studied and tested materials, and today vinyl is the third-largest volume plastic produced in North America.

VNS takes a comprehensive look at the news and information pertaining to vinyl. In addition to VNS wire reports on current topics, the Web site includes articles from multiple media sources in its “Vinyl in the Media” section. There is also a video section that includes a look at vinyl recycling efforts and an interview with Dr. Patrick Moore, co-founder and longtime head of Greenpeace, speaking about the benefits and safety of vinyl.