The Middle East conflict that has sharply cut international oil supplies has offered a difficult lesson in the reliance that building trades have on petroleum-based products. 
Nearly 20% of the total annual global plastic production goes toward the built environment, from PVC piping and vinyl flooring to furnishings, paints and carpet, making the material vital to multifamily buildings and many other construction and renovation projects. Plastics’ use in construction is only projected to grow, and prolonged pressure on oil prices could make that a more costly part of project budgets.
“Plastics prices are going up, they’re used on many different things, and it’s…​