Progress report for
VinylPlus
Achievement at a glance
The COVID-19 pandemic provoked severe market disruption during the first half of 2020 and recycling operations decreased throughout Europe. PVC waste recycling within the VinylPlus framework still reached a volume of 731,461 tonnes, only a 5% decrease from 2019. VinylPlus activities remained focused on R&D in new technical projects to expand collection and recycling schemes and to investigate other recycling technologies.<br>Since December 2019, VinylPlus has chaired the EU Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) Construction Working Group. In 2020, this working group actively contributed to the R&D Agenda and the Design for Recycling Guidelines.
<br>There were no transport accidents in Europe with VCM release, thus achieving the target of zero accidents over the decade.
<br>Estimates by European Plasticisers confirm a constant growth in the use of high-molecular-weight orthophthalates, terephthalates and other plasticisers in Europe, together with a progressive decline (-33% compared to 2005) in the use of low-molecular-weight orthophthalates.
<br>The energy needed to produce one tonne of PVC decreased by an average of 9.5% between 2007-2008 and 2015-2016. In the same period, CO2 emissions were reduced by 14.4% for the average PVC production. For converters, across main applications such as window profiles, pipes, flooring and films, energy consumption decreased between 16% and 26.5% in 2020 compared to 2010.
<br>The VinylPlus Status Report on Renewable Raw Materials was updated.
<br>As part of its partnership with the sports community, VinylPlus was a main partner of the Brussels Yoga Day 2020 held on 21 June.
<br>In 2020, the VinylPlus® Product Label was recognized as a Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme within BREEAM standard. The Label is now recommended to Belgian public purchasers in the Guide for Sustainable Purchases.
<br>Further information can be found in the VinylPlus Progress Report 2021 (downloadable from www.vinylplus.eu from 17 May 2021), independently audited and verified by third parties.
Challenges faced in implementation
The Coronavirus emergency has strongly impacted all human activities, including those in the PVC industry, from the production stage to recycling. Already in spring 2020 it was clear that COVID-19 would have a significant impact on 2020 recycling volumes: recycling operations decreased throughout Europe, as many companies were forced into lockdowns. Despite a generally more positive market in H2 2020, a complete recovery from the first wave of COVID-19 was not possible. Therefore, the recycling target of 800,000 tonnes could not be fully achieved, just one step away from the finish line. Nevertheless, VinylPlus confirms its strong engagement and its commitments to recycle 900,000 tonnes of PVC per year into new products by 2025 and at least 1 million tonnes by 2030.<br>The VinylPlus program is privately funded by the European PVC industry and requires significant financial commitment. In 2020, the European PVC industry invested 5.77 million Euro (around 6.9 million USD) in the VinylPlus program, of which 3.22 million Euro (around 3.8 million USD) in waste management and technical projects. Over the past 20 years, the European PVC industry invested more than 120 million Euro (around 144 million USD) in the implementation of its voluntary commitments to sustainable development, with an even greater allocation in terms of time and efforts.
<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. However, in addition to specific barriers related to current waste and chemical legislation, relentless regulatory changes create uncertainties that do not encourage investments. Legacy additives (substances that are no longer used in new PVC products but can be present in recycled PVC) continue to represent a challenge to recycling that VinylPlus is addressing by supporting research and studies.
Next Steps
The European PVC industry journey started 20 years ago with Vinyl 2010 and continued with VinylPlus. The industry committed to collectively address challenges and opportunities, to increase the sustainability performance and use of PVC and to actively contribute to building the circular economy. As a united value chain, VinylPlus accomplished major achievements recognized by many stakeholders.<br>As the industry approached the end of its second decade of Voluntary Commitments, consultations with stakeholders, inside and outside the industry, were carried out in 2020 to gather input, suggestions and advice on the priorities for the next 10-year Commitment running to 2030.
<br>Focusing on accelerating the transition towards the circular economy, sustainable production and value-chain decarbonization, as well as engagement with civil society and NGOs to enhance the European PVC industry’s contribution to the SDGs, the new Commitment is scheduled for official launch on 17 June 2021.
<br>The program will cover the EU-27 plus Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.
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Beneficiaries
Civil society
<br>European PVC value chain
<br>European PVC industry’s workers and employees
Actions
The VinylPlus 10-year program to 2020 has helped the European PVC value chain to develop more sustainable products and improve production processes (more sustainable use of additives, improved energy and resources efficiency, emission reduction). It has raised sustainability awareness and stimulated research and innovations among its partners (200 companies across Europe).<br>At a general level, end users, consumers and the entire civil society can benefit from increasingly safer and sustainable production processes and products.
<br>In terms of concrete environmental benefits, 6.5 million tonnes of PVC waste were recycled in the VinylPlus framework since 2000, saving 13 million tonnes of CO2, and around 1,500 direct jobs were created in recycling plants.
<br>The ASF (Additive Sustainability Footprint – https://vinylplus.eu/asf) methodology developed in collaboration with The Natural Step was peer-reviewed by LCA experts and validated. It will help additive manufacturers self-assess the lifecycle sustainability of their current and new additives used in PVC products.
<br>The VinylPlus® Product Label, the sustainability mark for PVC products developed in cooperation with BRE and TNS, is another flagship initiative to promote sustainability and circularity in the building&construction sector. By the end of 2020, 11 companies had been awarded the Product Label for 128 products and product systems manufactured at 19 European sites.
<br>VinylPlus continued to proactively share its best practices and achievements taking part in a series of virtual conferences and events. Due to COVID-19, the 8th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum (VSF2020) took place in Brussels, Belgium, in October 2020, in a new format, with few speakers and panelists in a TV studio and the others attending via livestreaming video conference. The event attracted more than 180 participants from 24 countries to debate the new challenges and opportunities for the PVC industry, take part interactively in live-polling sessions and contribute to the architecture of the new Commitment to 2030.