‘Continuous progress’ for Europe’s PVC sector

Belgium – A record 444 500 tonnes of PVC was recycled across Europe last year, it was announced by the VinylPlus recycling programme at the recent Vinyl Sustainability Forum. The industry is ‘on track’ to meet the challenge of recycling 800 000 tonnes of PVC by 2020, it told delegates in Rome.

In 2013, VinylPlus saw a decrease of 81.4% in the use of lead-based stabilisers within the EU-27 when compared to 2007 levels – ′well on target′ to completing their substitution by the end of 2015. In 2014, the commitment will be extended to include Croatia.
′We are very proud to show how VinylPlus is continuously progressing towards its targets,′ said VinylPlus chairman Michael Träger. At the heart of this push was a ′strong co-operation’ among PVC industry companies and national associations, he noted, which had cemented VinylPlus′ commitment to the cause and would see it invest ′maximum efforts′ in driving the PVC industry towards a greener economy at global level.

Creating a dialogue between public authorities and PVC businesses would allow all parties to play a ′proactive role in proposing projects and initiatives that are beneficial for all′, underlined Rossella Zadro, councillor for the environment of the Municipality of Ferrara in Italy.

A concern remains the so-called ′legacy additives′ in PVC waste as they hold the potential to limit the volume of material eligible for recycling. VinylPlus has dedicated itself to addressing this issue with the relevant authorities, it was added in Rome.

Last November, VinylPlus became a member of the Green Industry Platform, a joint initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme.

For more information, visit: www.vinylplus.eu