South Africa PVC Commitment moves with Rapid Speed

The South African Vinyls Association (SAVA) are following, with rapid and impressive pace, the examples set by the UK plastics industry’s VinylPlus commitment and Australian Vinyls Council.

The BPF had the pleasure of networking with South African Vinyls Association (SAVA) CEO, Delanie Bezuidenhout, at the ‘PVC: New Challenges, New Opportunities’ seminar on 10th November 2011.

In response to industry demand, SAVA was formed in November 2010 as the representative body for the Southern African vinyls industry.  Learning from the key commitments of VinylPlus and the Australian Vinyls Council, SAVA’s progress in one year is huge. 

‘Although South Africa in general is trailing international trends regarding environmental issues it is definitely committed to addressing those issues as a matter of priority’, says Delanie Bezuidenhout, ‘Conversely, through our international network including the BPF, SAVA wouldn’t have achieved in one year what we did without their support’.

SAVA intends to recycle 15000 tonnes per annum of plasticised PVC and 5000 tonnes per annum of rigid PVC. PVC recycle rates from 2009 of 14.6% plasticised PVC (23 recyclers) and 4.8% rigid (5 recyclers) are expected to have increased for 2010 due to the efforts of the Plastics|SA Sustainability Council.

The 2010 recycling review, as published by Plastics|SA, will be available in January 2011 at the time of the AGM and launch of SAVA’s Products Stewardship Program. The challenges with regards to recycling that the South African vinyls industry faces is in diverting PVC out of the current waste stream and developing markets for PVC recyclate.  One of SAVA’s methods of innovation in this area is in the creation of the SAVA Eco-Bin, made from used PVC banners that could otherwise not be recycled in South Africa.

The key aims of the Products Stewardship Program are the responsible and sustainable use of additives, effective communication as well as a vinyls recycling program, and to bolster the health of the industry through sustainable and responsible measures whilst SAVA continues to grow and add value to its membership.  

The BPF fully support SAVA’s commitments and encourage members to take advantage of the links between associations. For more information on the Products Stewardship Program click here.