The Contribution of PVC to Sustainability

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PVC's contribution is by no means limited to its products. The PVC industry is also setting a unique example in the process of working together as a supply chain in driving forward sustainable development.

The European PVC industry has adopted an integrated approach towards product stewardship throughout the product life-cycle. Following extensive public and political consultation the Voluntary Commitment of the PVC industry - Vinyl2010 – was signed in 2000. Vinyl 2010 was a 10-year programme that set challenging sustainability targets to minimise the environmental impact of PVC production, ensure responsible use of additives, support collection and recycling schemes, and encourage dialogue between all the industry stakeholders and beyond. The Vinyl 2010 programme was completed at the end of 2010, and the Vinyl 2010 Board and partner associations decided to move forward with a new voluntary programme, VinylPlus.

The final Progress Report of Vinyl 2010 was published in April 2011, after independent auditing. The recycling of post-consumer PVC waste in the EU achieved 260,842 tonnes in 2010 – an increase of 220,000 tonnes as compared to the 1999 recycling volumes – exceeding the 10-year target of 200,000 tonnes. The PVC manufacturers across the entire EU achieved 94% compliance with the industry production charters for VCM, suspension PVC and emulsion PVC. The substitution of lead based stabilisers is well ahead of schedule, with a total reduction of around 72% in the EU, well exceeding the target of 50% reduction by 2010.

The UK PVC industry was a star performer, contributing around 20% of the EU total by recycling 49,343 tonnes of post-consumer PVC in 2010. Materials collected and recycled through Recovinyl (the PVC industry recycling initiative) included window profiles, pipes, cables, flexible and rigid PVC.

“We have made tremendous recycling progress in the UK thanks to the strong cooperation by everyone involved, coordinated by the BPF Vinyls Group, and with special thanks to Axion Consulting, Recovinyl’s UK agents,” said Roger Mottram of INEOS ChlorVinyls (Chairman of the BPF Vinyls Group).

In the area of manufacturing eco-efficiency the UK has also been leading the way. The UK producer of vinyl chloride monomer and suspension PVC, INEOS ChlorVinyls, won the Chemical Industry Associations “low carbon award” in 2009 for its achievement of 18% reduction in energy efficiency of its UK operations over the period 1998 to 2008 – saving approximately 253,000 tonnes p.a. of CO2 emissions.

The European PVC industry’s new 10 year voluntary commitment, VinylPlus, builds on the achievements of Vinyl 2010. In creating VinylPlus, the industry has chosen to work in an open process of extensive stakeholder dialogue, including private companies, NGOs, regulators, politicians and users of PVC.

Five key challenges have been identified as priorities according to The Natural Step system conditions for a sustainable society:

• Controlled loop management of PVC
• Organochlorine emissions (to ensure that persistent organic compounds do not accumulate in nature)
• Sustainable use of additives
• Sustainable energy
• Sustainability awareness

The Natural Step Framework is an internationally recognised method for sustainability planning that integrates the science of sustainability with business decision-making.

BPF Vinyls Group

Vinyl2010

VinylPlus

www.pvc.org