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At the close of the European PVC Value Chain’s annual meeting, on 27 April, the first year results of its new ten year sustainability initiative – VinylPlus – were presented. Despite significant challenges caused by the economic crisis, results indicate that the industry is on track to achieve the VinylPlus sustainability goals for 2020 set last year following the successful completion of its predecessor Vinyl2010.

The 24 members of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) have committed themselves to the responsible and sustainable use of PVC with the signing of the industry’s Product Stewardship Programme (PSP) at the Association’s Annual General Meeting held in Midrand.
Speaking to European Plastics News, chairman Josef Ertl said: "VinylPlus is a continuation of Vinyl 2010, which was a great success, so we are trying to continue these achievements. We met our first targets and are now looking at new targets and even more ambitious targets - we have five challenges to fulfil."
The VinylPlus programme is built around five commitments aimed at: achieving a quantum leap in recycling rates of PVC and the development of innovative recycling technologies; addressing concerns about organochlorine emissions; ensuring the sustainable use of additives; enhancing energy efficiency and the use or renewable energy and raw materials in PVC production, and; promoting sustainability throughout the whole PVC value chain.
The European PVC industry released on 12 April the final Progress Report on Vinyl 2010 – the ten-year voluntary commitment launched in 2000 to enhance the sustainable production and use of PVC. The report highlights the huge advances made by the industry over the past decade in waste management, innovative recycling technologies, stakeholder engagement and responsible use of additives.