MATERIALS | PVC RECYCLING
Right: Nicoll uses Vynova’s bio-attributed PVC in its silent
wastewater evacuation system
Industry expenditure increased by 4.6% compared to 2021, which Vinyl- Plus said was explained by variations in volumes collected and recycled or increased costs due to inflation. The
expenditure of VinylPlus – including EuPC and its members, as well as national and sectoral co-funding – reached €5.33 million in 2022.
Under its VinylPlus 2030 commitment, the
organisation has a target to recycle 900,000 tonnes/year of PVC by 2025, and 1m tonnes/
year by 2030. “The PVC industry is on track to deliver the first targets of VinylPlus 2030,” according to Karl-Martin Schellerer, chairman of VinylPlus.
“Still, a clear and supportive regulatory framework is essential to set even more ambitious targets and continue to play a significant role in enabling the EU Green Deal.” A number of ongoing projects will attempt to
increase levels of PVC recycling. In one, Teppfa began a project to explore the potential to in- crease pre- and post-consumer waste volumes – ei- ther by strengthening efforts in the existing network or via additional EU collection schemes. The demand for rigid recycled PVC – especially in non-pressure multilayer sewage pipes and in cable ducts – is increasing, driven by recycled content legislation in some EU member states, it said. Teppfa has now started a project to open up
related product standards. Today most non-pres- sure product standards allow the use of a limited percentage of recycled content from pipe waste, but some barriers can be removed to further increase it without compromising on quality, performance and longevity, it said. “VinylPlus is also investing in R&D projects aimed
Schellerer: “Supportive regulatory framework needed to set more ambitious targets”
at removing legacy additives from waste, increasing chemical recycling and extracting and exploiting waste-to-energy by-products for the parts of PVC waste that cannot be mechanically recycled in an eco-efficient manner,” said Schellerer.
New regs for lead VinylPlus has also welcomed the publication of the recent European Commission regulation – restrict- ing lead in PVC under the EU’s Reach programme. The new regulation, which came into force in
May, supports the industry’s efforts to substitute lead stabilisers in PVC production. Since 2015, the European PVC industry across all EU-27 member states has stopped using lead-based stabilisers. It will restrict the import of lead-containing PVC products from those countries where lead is still
24 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | July/August 2023
used as a stabiliser. It will also set a path that enables the recycling of PVC products containing legacy lead additives – in a way which safeguards human health and the environment. The industry will also be given time to adjust to the new rules, ensuring continuity of recycling. “The restriction on lead in PVC represents a significant step in enabling the PVC industry to meet its ambitious recycling targets – 1 million tonnes per year of recycled PVC used in new products by 2030 – in a safe way for human health and the environment,” said Brigitte Dero, managing director of VinylPlus. The regulations and annexe can both be read at the European Commission’s website.
Recyclate in pipe UK-based Polypipe Building Services says it will now make its range of Terrain PVC pipes with up to 65% recycled materials. These will be produced to British Standard EN1453 to ensure equivalent strength and durabil- ity, while using recycled content. “This maintains quality and performance while
supporting a move to a circular economy that makes best use of construction waste,” said Andy Cullum, UK managing director at Polypipe Building Services. The launch follows extensive testing and an investment of more than £2.4 million (US$3m) to allow the use of recycled material from PVC windows. Terrain pipes will be produced as a multi-layer product. “Many building projects are demanding higher sustainability throughout the supply chain, and it is vital to play a part,” he added. Polypipe’s parent company, Genuit, intends to use 62% recycled materials in its products by 2025.
Recycled content Alphagary has introduced a range of PVC com- pounds that use a high percentage of recycled content.
Its Infinitude series of PVC compounds – avail- able in natural base or pre-coloured – is designed for both moulding and extrusion applications. Grades formulated with up to 70% recycled content have been used by customers in applica- tions including irrigation and garden hoses. “Based on our lab analysis and customer feedback, we found that these compounds function similarly to those formulated with all prime materials in how they process and perform in the end applications,” said Angelica Fram, head of quality assurance at Alphagary in Colombia.
www.pipeandprofile.com
IMAGE: NICOLL
IMAGE: VINYLPLUS
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