NEWS


European PVC recycling declined again in 2024


Recycling rates of PVC in Europe fell again in 2024, according to VinylPlus. For the full year, it says


nearly 725,000 tonnes of PVC waste were recycled in the EU-27, plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK – a fall of around 2%. This represents around 25% of all PVC waste generated in Europe, it said. Of the total, 61% was pre- consumer waste – where factories reprocess their own waste internally – and 39% was post-consumer waste (where PVC is collected after use). In 2023, pre-consumer recycling fell by just over 2%, while post-consumer recycling rose by 7%. Recycling of ‘flexibles’ fell by almost 20% in 2024. Recycling of ‘rigid film’ was stable at around 20,000 tonnes. At the same time, recycling or rigid film fell 17%. However, the bulk of PVC is used in profiles and pipes – where recycling increased in both cases. In profiles, it rose about 1%, while for pipes it rose 10%. VinylPlus said reasons for


the decrease were: a downturn in the construction


Pipes 11%


Traffic


Management 16%


Other building/ construction 7%


Other 1%


Floor coverings 25%


Windows/profiles 41%


EuPC warns tariffs could cost jobs


Source: VinylPlus, 2025 Use of rPVC in 2024, %


sector, which reduced the availability of PVC waste for collection; more competitive prices of virgin PVC; and increased imports of non-EU virgin and recycled PVC. “Despite the challenges


in 2024, PVC waste recy- cling remained relatively stable,” said Charlotte Roeber, managing director of VinylPlus. “Reasons for this include committed and stable sourcing of recycled PVC – as an increasing number of companies has circular operations.” Demand for recycled


PVC (rPVC ) grew more than


4% compared to previous year, said VinylPlus – with uptake of rPVC from converters up to around 490,000 tonnes in 2024. The VinylPlus 2030 commitment has a target to recycle 900,000 tonnes/year of PVC by 2025 – which would need a 24% increase this year – and 1 million tonnes/year by 2030. However, this year it says it will launch “a comprehen- sive review of its 2030 targets…to take into account market and technical developments”. � www.vinylplus.eu


The European Plastics Converters (EuPC) trade body has warned that EU tariffs on US polymer imports could threaten companies in Europe. “These tariffs risk triggering a chain reaction of price hikes, reduced competitiveness and job losses across the EU,” said Paolo Bochicchio, manag- ing director of EuPC, which represents plastics converters. “They could seriously undermine Europe’s industrial and environmental goals.” It also suggested raw


material costs will increase – hurting 95% of the largely SME-based industry – imports of cheaper finished plastic goods will surge, further weakening EU manufactur- ers, and investments in recycling and circularity will stall, hitting Europe’s green ambitions. EuPC urged policy


makers in Brussels to stop the tariffs, support SMEs with cost offsets and secure stable raw material supply. � www.plasticsconverters.eu


Infra Pipe buys new plant in Florida


US-based HDPE producer Infra Pipe Solutions has acquired a new produc- tion facility in Jacksonville, Florida. It is the largest in the company’s network of sites across Canada and the US – and the only solid-wall HDPE facility in Florida, it says.


4


By adding the plant, the company says it will be able to serve increased market demand – especially in the Southeast. “The addition of our sixth manufac- turing facility marks a significant milestone in our growth,” said Bill


PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | Summer 2025


Donaldson, CEO of Infra Pipe. The 169,000 sq ft plant will make solid wall pressure pipe for potable water, stormwater, and wastewater applications. The facility was bought from Flying W Plastics. � www.infrapipes.com


www.pipeandprofile.com


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