Progress report for
Achievement at a glance
In 2019, 771,313 tonnes of PVC were recycled in the VinylPlus framework, very close to the 800,000-tonne industry’s target for 2020.
<br>In September 2019, VinylPlus officially joined the EU Circular Plastics Alliance, the multi-stakeholder platform aimed at delivering on the circular economy for plastics and substantially increasing the use of recycled plastics in new products.
<br>The Industry Charters for the production of VCM and PVC resins were updated, including with a commitment to comply with the Operation Clean Sweep® program, and unified. The PVC resin industry is committed to achieving full compliance with the updated Charter by the end of 2021.
<br>After the critical review by the University of Manchester, UK, the validation of the Additive Sustainability Footprint criteria can be considered as fully achieved.
<br>Non-fossil-based PVC additives, compounds and applications are starting to become available. Commercially viable bio-attributed certified PVC resins were launched on the market by two ECVM member companies.
<br>The VinylPlus® Product Label, a sustainability scheme for PVC products in building&construction, has been officially validated in Italy by Accredia. To date, 112 products manufactured by 10 companies in 18 European sites have been certified.
<br>Concrete initiatives for workers’ safety and education and for the digitalization of SMEs are ongoing in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed in 2017 with the Social Partners of the European Chemical Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee.
<br>The strategic partnership with sports organizations developed by VinylPlus in 2019 proved to be an effective means to raise awareness of the VinylPlus’ contribution to the circular economy and the SDGs and to build new relationships with institutions, authorities and the youth at local, regional and global level.
<br>Further information on the 2019 activities can be found in the VinylPlus Progress Report 2020 (available from end of May), independently audited and verified by third parties.
Challenges faced in implementation
The VinylPlus program is privately funded by the European PVC industry and requires significant financial commitment. In 2019, the European PVC industry invested 5.25 million Euro (around 5.7 million USD) in the VinylPlus program, of which 3.22 million Euro (around 3.5 million USD) in waste management and technical projects. Over the past 19 years, the European PVC industry invested more than 110 million Euro (around 122 million USD) in its voluntary commitments to sustainable development, with an even greater allocation in terms of time and efforts.
<br>VinylPlus is delivering on its commitments, and this beside the fact that the European business environment has evolved – due to the economic crisis, but also to some regulatory burdens that have emerged over time.
<br>Recycling remains a crucial aspect of the VinylPlus program, especially in consideration of the development of EU policies affecting the plastics sector and the drive towards a circular economy. Legacy additives (substances that are no longer used in new PVC products but can be present in recycled PVC) continue to be a thorny issue, and they represent a challenge to the VinylPlus recycling targets. This is in spite of the work carried out to ensure the safe use of recycled PVC products, using third-party, fact-based risk assessments. A balanced and harmonized legislative framework for the plastics recycling is essential to secure VinylPlus' contribution to the circular economy and to achieve the recycling targets beyond 2020.
<br>VinylPlus will enhance its continuous engagement with regulators and institutions to demonstrate that the safe, responsible recycling of products containing legacy additives is the best waste management option from both a health and an environmental point of view.
Next Steps
While continuing to implement the program and progressing towards the targets set for the end of 2020, VinylPlus has started to work on its new sustainability program for the next decade and beyond.
<br>Commitments were already taken to the European Union for the recycling of 900,000 tonnes of PVC per year into new products by 2025 and at least 1 million tonnes by 2030.
<br>Consultations are ongoing with different stakeholders, inside and outside the industry, to gather input, suggestions and advice on the priorities that the European PVC industry should address in its next 10-year sustainability program.
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Beneficiaries
Civil society
<br>European PVC value chain
<br>European PVC industry’s workers and employees
Actions
Thanks to the exchange of experiences and best practices, the support given to R&D (both at a technological and environmental level) and to the development of innovative methodologies and organizational solutions (such as the VinylPlus® Product Label; the Additive Sustainability Footprint; or the establishment of the Recovinyl system to develop end-of-life PVC collection and recycling schemes), the European PVC value chain is both an active part in the partnership and a key beneficiary of it.
<br>Through the VinylPlus initiative, the European PVC industry is creating a long-term sustainability framework for the entire PVC value chain and improving PVC products’ sustainability and their contribution to a sustainable society.
<br>At a general level, end users, consumers and the entire civil society can benefit from increasingly safe and sustainable production processes and products.
<br>In terms of concrete environmental benefits, the 770,000 tonnes of PVC recycled in 2019 saved 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Since 2000, 5.7 million tonnes of PVC waste were recycled in the framework of the VinylPlus’ Voluntary Commitments, saving 11.4 million tonnes of CO2, and more than 1,500 direct jobs were created in recycling plants.
<br>The Social Dialogue implemented with the European trade union is beneficial to the European PVC industry employees. The cooperation agreement signed with the European Chemical Sectoral Social Partners identifies priority actions in the areas of health&safety, education&training, knowledge transfer and sector evolution.
<br>In 2019, VinylPlus continued to proactively share its approach, best practice and achievements, participating in conferences and events at the European and global level.
<br>With the theme Accelerating Innovation, the 7th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum in Prague, Czech Republic, brought together 185 stakeholders from 32 countries. Discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies in shaping the PVC sector’s future in the context of the circular economy and sustainability.
