PVC industry adopts new technologies to reduce environmental impact

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PVC industry adopts new technologies to reduce environmental impact

PVC which has been under pressure from environmentalists since 1970s has used technologies to reduce environmental impact, and therefore continues to grow at 3-4% globally. In Europe, the PVC industry is on course to meet its 10 year recycling target laid out in its Vinyl 2010 voluntary commitment. The industry is already hinting at �Vinyl 2020� � but has not yet set any new 10-year targets. Vinyl 2010 is a 10-year plan, based on a voluntary approach, with fixed targets and deadlines to improve production processes and products, invest in technology, minimize emissions and waste and boost collection and recycling

PVC Industry Voluntary Commitment:
For Manufacturing in General
•	Cut raw material and energy consumption where economically and ecologically warranted
•	Review progress on an annual basis.
For PVC Resin Producers
•	Minimize environmental impact through compliance with the ECVM Industry Charters
For Plasticiser Producers
•	Safe use of plasticisers, in line with EU risk assessments
•	Conduct material lifecycle analysis to identify additional possible improvements
For Stabilizer Producers
•	Phase out cadmium stabilizers in the EU-15 by 2001. Following the European Union enlargement, this commitment was extended to the EU-25 (2006) and EU-27 (2007)
•	Continue to work with the European Commission on targeted risk assessments
•	Continue to research and develop new stabilisers as an alternative to the widely used and highly effective lead-based systems. This is part of a commitment to replace lead stabilisers in all EU-27 Member States by 2015 (50% reduction target of use in the EU-15 by 2010)
•	Actively support an integrated waste management approach, to use raw materials efficiently and utilise sustainable options
•	Cooperation with stakeholders to research and implement the necessary recycling technologies to achieve this target
•	Development of additional mechanical and feedstock recycling technologies, to reach PVC post-consumer waste recycling additional 200,000 tpa in Europe in 2010 (in addition to quantities already recycled in 2000 and coming from EU legislation on packaging, ELV and waste electrical and electronic equipment)
Progress reached against targets set for 2010 as per vinyl2010.org
•	Reduction of environmental impact of the PVC manufacturing with compliance to ECVM Charters:
	- Bisphenol A phased out of PVC production in all ECVM member companies (2001)
	- External verification of ECVM S-PVC and E-PVC production charters (2002 and 2005 respectively) and extension to the EU-27 (2008)
	- Publication of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for S-PVC and E-PVC (2007)
•	Responsible use of chemicals (plasticisers and stabilisers):
	- Cadmium stabilisers phased-out in the EU-15 (2001), EU-25 (2006) and EU-27 (2007)
	- Risk assessment on lead stabilisers published (2005)
	- Phthalate risk assessments completed (2005-2006) and published (2006-2008)
	- Lead stabiliser phase-out in 2015 extended to the EU-25 (2006) and EU - 27 (2007)
	- 50% reduction in lead stabiliser use in the EU-15 achieved two years ahead of time (2008)
•	Commitments on waste management (recycling to ultimate disposal) with projects covering technology, research, organisation (recycling schemes) and communication (best practice)
	- Achieved targets of recycling: 25% recycling of collectable, available PVC post-consumer waste from pipes, windows profiles and roofing membranes in 2003
	- Achieved targets of recycling: 50% recycling of collectable, available PVC post-consumer waste from pipes and windows profiles in 2005
	- Recycled tonnages increasing exponentially: from 14,255 in 2003 to 194,950 in 2008.
•	Project funding of 8.2 million Euro in 2008 (more than 43 million Euro over the last 8 years)
•	Yearly publication of Progress Reports verified and certificated by KPMG (for tonnages recycled and financial investments) and SGS

In 2008 almost 200,000 tons of PVC was recycled in Europe which reflected a 30% increase. Waste PVC is collected and recycled through Recovinyl. In 2008, the registered recycled volume of PVC from PVC pipes rose by around 20% to top 22,000 tons and PVC profile recycling doubled to reach just below 80,000 tons. The replacement of lead stabilizers rose above 50% � two years ahead of the 2010 target date. Between 2000 and 2008, Europe reduced the use of lead stabilizers by 52%, or more than 65,000 tons and use of calcium-based stabilizers rose by 50,000 tons. The next step is the complete phase-out of lead stabilizers by 2015.
Lead reduction is not confined to Europe. US compounded Teknor Apex has stopped selling lead stabilized compounds for wire and cable since July 2009. The replacement of lead stabilizer in wire & cable formulations is quite difficult as they offer excellent electrical properties.
European companies are also meeting the commitments of REACH- Baerlocher has developed a range of �Reach-friendly� PVC stabilizers for plasticized PVC calendering and plastisol applications. It has also developed a new generation of solid calcium-zinc products for rigid calendering and blown PVC films. Arkema has developed a range of acrylic impact modifiers for rigid PVC profiles.
Durastrength 360, particularly successful in Eastern Europe, is the first in a new range of �composite� impact additives for PVC window profiles. Its better impact strength provides an economic benefit to the extent of 10-15%.
Chelsea Building Products has developed a stronger PVC window frame with its proprietary �PVC composite�. The composite is compounded and extruded as an alternative to metal and is manufactured from a highly mineral filled formulation. Thermal performance is much better than aluminum and steel while its structural properties are similar to aluminum and its modulus is five times that of standard PVC.
Polypipe Terrain�s Acoustic dB12 piping system based on 3 layers is providing sound proofness. The acoustically insulated pipes and fittings allow soil and waste piping systems to be installed in multi-occupancy buildings where sound insulation is a key requirement. The three-layer construction provides acoustic performance in like hotels, apartments, hospitals and schools that surpasses the requirements of Building Regulations Part E, and to also meet Class B1 fire protection standards.
Molecor of Spain has improved its molecular orientation technology for PVC pipes. These oriented PVC pipes called PVC �O pipes have higher strength than standard PVC pipes.

Vinyl 2010 was set up and is run by the four associations which represent the European PVC industry: the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), the European Plastics Converters (EuPC), the European Stabiliser Producers Association (ESPA) and the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI).