Clearview National July 2017 - Issue 188 | Page 34

PROUD SPONSOR OF DOORS & WINDOWS
DOORS&WINDOWS
Towards Circular Economy
The PVCu industry is making real progress towards sustainability and a positive
contribution to the circular economy through a united industry approach, delegates
heard at the 5th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2017 in Berlin, Germany.
» » ORGANISED BY VINYLPLUS, THE
European PVCu industry sustainability
programme, this year’s forum held on May
10th and 11th took the theme of ‘Towards
Circular Economy’ and explored the many
growing opportunities for the PVCu sector
to contribute to this key objective of EU
policy.
Against a backdrop of important decisions
being taken on the European Commission’s
Circular Economy Package, presentations and
panel discussions from high-level speakers
focussed on how the vinyl industry is
tackling key sustainability issues, such as
legacy additives in recycled PVCu, and
contributing to a stronger circular flow of
resources.
The forum attracted more than
170 stakeholders from 30 countries
representing academia, government bodies,
the UN, the European Commission, specifiers,
designers, architects and all sectors of the
PVCu industry.
Welcoming delegates, VinylPlus Chairman
Josef Ertl said: “I’m sure, most people will
agree, that a sustainable society without a
circular economy is difficult to imagine. And
the unique characteristics of plastics allow
them to make a strong contribution to a more
environmentally sustainable and resource
efficient Europe. PVCu is clearly contributing
to this; and certainly VinylPlus with its unique
co-operation model, bringing together the
whole PVCu value chain, is the right platform
for sustainability and circularity in the PVCu
industry.”
Acknowledging that a move from a
predominantly linear to a largely circular
economic system would ‘dramatically change’
how companies and value chains co-operate
and the way we produce and consume goods,
Josef Ertl said: “In this context, we must
ensure that the entire life cycle of a product is
considered, not just aspects at the end of the
life cycle.”
He called on political leaders to work
closely with the PVCu industry to analyse the
potential impacts of any decisions that might
affect the PVCu sector.
34 » JUL 2017 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
Michael Kundel, President of the European
Plastics Converters (EuPC) stated that a
clear way forward on how to handle end of
life PVCu is ‘urgently required’ if its further
potential is to be exploited in the future. He
called on the PVCu industry and political
decision-makers to ‘co-operate fully and
establish a framework that meets the needs of
a low carbon economy’.
He added: “The VinylPlus Voluntary
Commitment has set a framework and can
serve as a roadmap on how to create a more
sustainable future with plastic materials along
the value chain. Being the successful pioneer,
VinylPlus might well serve as a role model for
other plastics too.”
Presenting the 2016 results, VinylPlus
General Manager Brigitte Dero highlighted
the achievements of a ‘united PVCu value
chain’ within the VinylPlus framework, which
included the recycling of 568,696 tonnes of
PVCu last year. A cumulative total of more than
3.5 million tonnes of PVCu has been recycled
since 2000 thanks to the efforts of VinylPlus.
Progress on additives includes the
development of the Additives Sustainability
Footprint (ASF), a science-based methodology
for assessing the sustainable use of additives
in PVCu products. The first ASF will be
completed for window profiles this year,
followed by flexible applications.
Brigitte stated: “Through the VinylPlus
Voluntary Commitment, we can provide
solutions to issues raised in the EU discussion
on Plastics Strategy. In 2016, we made real
progress towards our sustainability goals in
terms of the safety and quality of recycled
PVCu, alongside recognition by external
stakeholders that VinylPlus is considered
by many as a frontrunner for the circular
economy.”
Dr Janz said: “The many possible uses of
plastics have made them an integral part of our
daily lives. It is precisely for that reason that,
now more than ever, we have to strengthen
the sustainable management of plastics along
the entire value chain and in doing so reduce
negative effects on the environment and
human health.”
Reflecting on the Forum, Josef Ertl
concluded: “Innovation is the main driver
which creates ways to reduce emissions and
consumption of raw materials and resources.
It improves energy and cost efficiency, it
increases products’ useful lives. It will create a
lot of new ways to improve recycling.”
VinylPlus is the Voluntary Commitment of
the European PVCu industry. The programme
establishes a long-term framework for the
sustainable development of the PVCu industry
by tackling a number of critical challenges in
the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland.