480,000 tonnes PVC recycled = 1,000 jobs created = 1m tonnes CO2 saved
17th November 2015

Over 480,000 tonnes of waste PVC recycled across Europe in 2014 contributed to the creation of around 1,000 direct jobs in recycling plants as well saving a million tonnes of CO2 emissions, according to VINYLPLUS, the sustainable development programme of the European PVC industry.
Waste PVC materials, including 11.8 million window frames were recycled through the European-wide network of 155 Recovinyl-accredited recyclers.

Speaking at the recent Brussels Sustainable Development Summit in October, Arjen Sevenster, Technical and Environmental Affairs Manager for the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) highlighted how Voluntary Commitments, such as VinylPlus, which put together the entire European PVC value chain, can address sustainability challenges in a systemic and holistic way, helping to move an industry sector towards a low-carbon circular economy:

“We are addressing sustainability as a whole through a range of actions including waste management, sustainable use of additives and reducing energy consumption.

“For example, from 2007 to 2013 there was a 10.2% decrease in energy consumption to produce one tonne of PVC. Resin producers are targeting a 20% reduction of energy consumption by 2020.”

VinylPlus is the renewed ten-year Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry. The programme establishes a long-term framework for the sustainable development of the PVC industry by tackling a number of critical challenges in the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland. Its target is to recycle 800,000 tonnes of PVC per year by 2020.

http://www.vinylplus.eu/resources/publications/progress-report