PVC | INNOVATION
PVC recycling branches out to medical products
New and innovative schemes are emerging to find creative ways to re-use PVC. Mark Holmes reports on some developments in PVC recycling
There is a sustained commitment to PVC recycling – flexible and rigid – ranging from multinational industry bodies to individual companies enhancing their sustainability credentials. PVC is recyclable and can be re-used a number of times in ways that can maintain its properties. Recycling schemes and initiatives are emerging, for example, in medical and cable applications for flexible PVC through to window profiles and pipes for uPVC. VinylPlus, the European PVC industry’s volun- tary commitment to sustainable development, has reported that 771,313 tonnes of PVC was recycled in 2019, more than 96% of the programme’s 2020 target. It adds that the PVC industry is well on track to meet VinylPlus’ recycling targets for 2025, in line with the circular economy and the Circular Plastics Alliance and EU policy initiatives to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of plastics. Recycling is a key part of the VinylPlus programmes, and this is reinforced by traceability and certification schemes that ensure the safety and quality of recycled materials and processes. Through its voluntary commitment, the European
PVC industry has recycled 5.7m tonnes of PVC since 2000. Following the European Commission’s pledging call for the entire plastics industry to boost recycling, VinylPlus has committed to recycling at least 900,000 tonnes of PVC per year into new products by 2025. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has confirmed recently that the recycling of end-of-life PVC products is the best waste manage- ment option from both an environmental and human health point of view. The alternative scenari- os would result in wasting material that would otherwise be recycled and reused. VinylPlus’ 2020 Progress Report confirms that the voluntary programme is achieving its targeted
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objectives. To guarantee maximum transparency, participation and accountability, a Monitoring Committee, composed of representatives of the EU Parliament, the EU Commission, trade unions, consumer organisations and academia, supervises VinylPlus’ achievements and progress. VinylPlus adds that its focus is not just pursuing circular economy goals, but also addressing other sustain- ability topics such as energy and climate change, sustainable material sourcing and production and the responsible use of additives. Such key issues have been integrated into the VinylPlus Product Label, the sustainability certification scheme for PVC products in the building and construction sector delivering the highest sustainability perfor- mance and contribution to the circular economy. To date, ten companies have received the VinylPlus Product Label for more than 100 PVC products manufactured at 18 European sites.
� November/December 2020 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 27
Above: Cleaned up PVC masks and tubing from the RecoMed project at UK hospitals
IMAGE: RECOMED
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