The results were presented at the 2014 Vinyl Sustainability Forum in Rome. VinylPlus Chairman Michael Träger said: “We are very proud to show how VinylPlus is continuously progressing toward its targets. At the heart of our Commitment’s progress is the strong cooperation among PVC industry sector groups, companies, national associations and the factual contribution of our stakeholders. It is for that reason that this year’s Forum focuses on Enhancing the Value of Partnerships and their contribution to a more sustainable future.”
In 2013, EU regulations’ potential impact on recycling because of the presence of ‘legacy additives’[2] in PVC waste was a serious challenge for the industry as it has the potential to reduce the amount of PVC that can be recycled. This concern is valid for PVC recycling but also for many other recycled materials. VinylPlus made significant efforts to address this issue with the relevant authorities.
In 2013 VinylPlus registered a decrease of 81.4% in the use of lead-based stabilisers in the EU-27 compared to 2007 levels, well on target to completing their substitution by the end of 2015. In 2014, the commitment will be extended to the EU-28.
