VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainable development programme, revealed it recycled 514,913 tonnes of PVC within its framework last year, 45% of which came from window profiles and related profile products.
The 2015 results were presented at its fourth Vinyl Sustainability Forum, held last week in Vienna, Austria, where the industry revealed its latest achievements, including the replacement of lead-based stabilisers in the European Union (EU) market.
The forum attracted more than 130 stakeholders from academia, government bodies, the United Nations, the European Commission, specifiers, designers, architects and from across the PVC industry.
VinylPlus general manager Brigitte Dero presented the 2015 results and highlighted the action on lead as a “historic achievement”. From 2016, products made from virgin PVC resin by European converters will no longer contain lead.
Dero said: “Our progress and achievements in 2015 demonstrate how the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment is contributing to addressing climate change, improving product sustainability and moving the European PVC industry towards a circular economy.
VinylPlus also reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issue of ‘legacy additives' in recycled PVC in cooperation with regulatory authorities and proposed realistic solutions for the continuation and development of PVC recycling, taking into account its resource efficiency benefits.
It said it was also intensifying its discussions with institutions “to help find solutions amid ongoing concern from recyclers and converters over uncertainties in the implementation of relevant EU regulations, such as Reach and hazardous waste”.
At the close of event VinylPlus chairman Josef Ertl said: “Having heard some inspiring talks and presentations, I feel encouraged about the future of PVC as a material of choice offering numerous benefits for society which helps to serve people's needs.
“We are well on track and on our way to the sustainable development goals we have set for PVC, making PVC a material of choice offering safe products, contributing to society welfare.
“Achieving this vision is worth all efforts in our industry. I encourage all of you to help us to contribute to this vision because it's up to us to make it happen.”