MARKETS | PVC
Benvic to expand PVC recycling in France
France-based compounder Benvic is planning to increase its use of recycled PVC as part of its sustainability strategy. The group bought recycler Ereplast in Porcieu-Amblagnieu in 2019, where it recycles PVC for its Provinyl R materials, and is looking to expand production there as well as add a new PVC compounding line at the Benvic facility in Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur. Benvic concentrated on virgin PVC before its sale by parent
group Solvay in 2014 enabled it to diversify, particularly under the ownership of Investindustrial from 2019. Luc Mertens, CEO, says that in addition to its move into PVC recycling and development of halogen-free compounds for cables, it decided to diversify into polyolefin compounds and bio-based materials. “We think our role as a compounder is to develop and provide the best product for the right application,” says Mertens. In 2022, Benvic was sold to International Chemical Investors Group, which has a long-term approach, he says. “It’s clear ICIG is totally focused on sustainability.”
Benvic is aiming to grow its turnover in 2024 from the current
level of approximately €500m and part of that plan involves investing further in PVC recycling. The production at Ereplast will be increased to 3,500 tonnes per year. The group says ProVinyl R is growing in popularity and has a number of volume-based custom- ers in the building and construction sectors. PVC customers are looking to increase recycled content in their
applications. Eric Grange, Product Marketing Manager, says one customer which makes external insulation panels introduced recycled PVC in its product at 20% content and is now increasing the level up to 50%.
Although its mainly customers in the construc- tion industry wanting to increase their use of recycled PVC, says Grange, development work is also expanding with customers in other sectors. Sports and leisure wear group Decathlon, for example, is launching clogs for gardening which contain recycled PVC. Grange says the group had not previously been a customer of Benvic and
Benvic is
working with Decathlon on developing clogs for gardening which contain recycled PVC
it helped Decathlon develop the shoes with the recycled material expertise it has built up at Ereplast. Benvic aims to be a problem solver for its customers, he says, taking on challenges such as colour matching and sourcing the right feedstock for the application. Benvic’s dedication to quality products has independent verification. In December, it received QB34 certification covering vinyl compounds for PVC window profiles.
30 PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | January/February 2024
increase post-consumer PVC recycling. The company, whose ReNew pool liner film is manufac- tured with 51% post-industrial recycled content, saw an opportunity to address the environmental impact of end-of-life vinyl pool liners. “Approximately half a million vinyl pool liners
from the nearly 5m pools in US backyards are estimated to end up in landfills each year,” says i2M CEO Alex Grover. To address this need and to promote circularity and material stewardship, i2M implemented the ReNew Champions program, which is a takeback initiative that provides collection bins to customers, at no cost, to facilitate responsi- ble disposal and recycling of used pool liners. “A ReNew Champions membership ensures
responsible disposal, guided by i2M. Recycled post-consumer vinyl finds new life as high-quality waterproofing membranes for both commercial and residential construction.” Grover explains that customers initiate the process by applying for a col- lection container, which is supplied by i2M and picked up once it is filled. “The biggest challenge is managing logistics,” she says. “We choose loca- tions [for bin placement] along existing logistical paths to minimise transport costs and reduce carbon emissions. Prioritizing areas where we regularly make truckload deliveries ensures an efficient return trip, utilising the same transporta- tion to haul back recycling materials.” The program, launched in 2021, has grown rapidly to nearly 100 bins in East Coast states. Tribu Persaud, Director at Canadian recycler Norwich Plastics, says that post-consumer material is an area of significant opportunity and growth potential for recyclers. “In the whole value chain of the plastics industry, we need to pay attention to how to get plastic products back from the consum- er,” he says. Collection and sorting are challenges, but a greater focus on design for recycling could help make these processes easier. Getting the word out is also crucial. “In our projects, we hope to shine the light on more areas of plastic scrap that can be recycled,” says Persaud. Norwich Plastics recently began working with a local installer of pool liners to recover the old liners. “There are some challenges with adhesives, substrates, and biological matter, but these can be handled,” he says. “We have had good success in other PVC liners, such as geomembranes and roofing membranes from both commercial and residential sites, and we see post-consumer pool liners as a good opportunity.” Another area of opportunity for flexible PVC
recycling is in medical devices from healthcare facilities, such as oxygen and anaesthetic masks,
www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com
IMAGE: BENVIC
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