Ecobalance calculations confirm the competitiveness of PVC plastisols for automotive underbody coatings when ecological criteria ave considered as e.g. energy consumption or global warming potential. The consideration of risk potentials during production, processing, use and waste management reveal that PVC underbody systems and their alternatives have not shown special problems up to now. The residual components of automotive underbody coatings are safely controlled with regard to metal recycling and conversion of the light shredder residues.