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The VinylPlus Initiative in Europe

Stepping stones towards sustainability in the PVC industry

Brigitte Dero, General Manager ECVMDGM VinylPlusFifth PVC Andean Forum Bogota, 25th September 2012

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OUR MISSIONTo minimise the impact of PVC products throughout their entire life cycle

and improve their contribution towards sustainable development

What is VinylPlus?

ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY ECONOMY

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

OUR COMMITMENT TO

Table of contents

Founding Members

Vinyl 2010: ten years achievements Accountability and Transparency, Annual progress

report, Funding

From Vinyl 2010 to VinylPlus

About VinylPlus

5 Challenges Controlled-loop management Organochlorine emissions Sustainable use of additives Sustainable energy and climate stability Sustainability awareness

VinylPlus in few sentences The future ahead

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What is VinylPlus?

Looking back on 10 years of achievements

Year 2000

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Vinyl 2010 Founding Members

PV

C V

AL

UE

-CH

AIN

The European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers

The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates

The European Stabilisers Producers Association

The European Plastics Converters

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Close to 1 million tonnes of post-consumer PVC recycled.

Cadmium stabilisers have been phased out from PVC productions in the EU 27. ‐

Lead stabilisers substitution well ahead of schedule -75.9% in EU-15 in 2010 -72% in EU-27 in 2010 Set to disappear in EU-27 by 2015.

Vinyl 2010 Achievements

Sajjad Karim, Member of the European Parliament

“Legislation is not necessary to best answer in every situation. Vinyl 2010 is a perfect example of an industry doing something on a voluntary basis to act in the interest, not only of themselves or of consumers, but of the European Union as a whole.”

Ongoing research, testing and expert evaluations on plasticisers have led the industry towards non-classified high phthalates (>80% market).

Research and Development programme on recycling and recovery technologies.

Vinyl 2010: Ten-year achievements

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A novel process: Vinyloop®

Vinyloop® Process Patented process developed by Solvin Separates the PVC compound from

other materials (other plastics, rubber, metal, textile and others) by selective dissolution and filtration. After solvent evaporation, PVC compound precipitates into micro granules.

The VinyLoop® process is using a solvent that is constantly turning in a closed loop.

A fully operational commercially running plant handling 10 kT per year exists at Ferrara, Italy.

Photos courtesy of Solvin

Vinyloop® - Products

Vinyloop® Products VinyLoop® R-PVC is a regenerated PVC

compound produced from plasticized and composite PVC wastes.

The regenerated PVC compound (R-PVC) can be re-processed by extrusion, injection or calendering.

It provides a new life to valuable resources and demonstrates controlled-loop recycling

Vinyloop® is a major contributor to the VinylPlus targets

Details available from: http://www.solvayplastics.com/sites/solvayplastics/EN/Companies/

vinyloop/Pages/VinyLoopProcess.aspx

A commitment to transparency

Independent Monitoring Committee measuring our progress

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Industry

Academics

Audited by external verifiers

Fundamental document for transparency, credibility and

accountability

Dissemination to policy makers, media, industry

Annual progress report

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Vinyl 2010 - Summing up

Recognition by stakeholders that Vinyl 2010 is an excellent tool to make progress towards sustainability

Key issues across the whole life-cycle addressed

Measurable targets and transparency

Positive impact on the image

Positive impact on the business

Decision was taken to build up on Vinyl 2010

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But…

The world has changed a lot since the year 2000.

Concerns about long-term availability of energy sources have increased

Climate change widely recognised as a major challenge

Citizens are demanding both better and more affordable products

Sustainable development is increasingly becoming a critical component for successful businesses

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From Vinyl 2010 to VinylPlus

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A profound thinking process

Extensive consultations of internal and external stakeholders

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Plenty of good ideas

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Welcome to the VinylPlus journey!

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VinylPlus : The new ten year programme

Strong foundations

Commitment of the PVC Value chain to go ahead with a new ten year programme – signed in June 2011

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Who are the Partners?

PV

C V

AL

UE

-C

HA

IN

500,000 JOBS6 million t/y PVC production€80 billion Turnover

The European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers

The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates

The European Stabilisers Producers Association

The European Plastics Converters

* The Natural Step Framework is an internationally recognised method for sustainability planning that integrates the science of sustainability with business decision-making. It is an openly published and peer-reviewed model promoted by the international NGO, The Natural Step, along with its network of scientists, business and community leaders. (www.thenaturalstep.org)

1 NGO

In total, 180 companies contributing financially

VinylPlus in a few sentences….

Recycling Reducing emissions Sustainable use of chemical substances Reducing energy and raw material use Awareness raising and open communication with all

stakeholders

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30 Measurable and concrete targets organised around 5 challenges for PVC

Controlled-loop

management

Organo-chlorine

emissions

Sustainableuse of

additives

Sustainableenergy &

climate stability

Based on The Natural Step System Conditions

for a Sustainable Society

Controlled Loop Management

Recycle 800,000 tonnes/year of PVC by 2020.

Innovative technology to recycle 100,000 tonnes/year difficult to recycle PVC material

Address ‘legacy additives’

More efficient use and management of PVC throughout its entire lifecycle

CHALLENGE

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Organochlorine Emissions

Compliance with PVC resin Industry Charters in first Quarter 2012

Engage with external stakeholders in the discussion of the organochlorine emissions and develop a plan to deal with such concerns by end 2012

Risk assessment for the transportation of major raw materials, in particular VCM, by end 2013

Targeting zero accident rate with VCM release during transportation

CHALLENGE

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Strict production control to reduce emissions

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Sustainable Use of Additives

Lead replacement by end of 2015 in EU 27

Develop robust criteria for the ‘sustainable use of additives’, status report by end 2012

Validation of the criteria with the downstream value chain – status report by end 2014

CHALLENGE

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Review the current use of PVC additives in order to move towards more sustainable solutions

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Sustainable Energy Use

Resin producers to reduce their specific energy consumption, targeting 20% by 2020, targets for converters by end 2012

Develop suitable environmental footprint measurements (CO², water, land use, …) by end 2014

Establish Renewable Materials task Force by end first Q 2012, and report status by end 2012

CHALLENGE

4Reduce energy and raw material

consumption to minimise climate impact

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Sustainablity AwarenessCHALLENGE

5We will continue to build sustainability awareness across the value chain - including stakeholders inside and outside the PVC industry - to accelerate resolving our sustainability challenges

Controlled-loop

management

Organo-chlorine

emissions

Sustainableuse of

additives

Sustainableenergy &

climate stability

Monitoring Committee, twice a year Annual progress report audited and proactively

promoted to key stakeholders Membership certificate to acknowledge and recognise

converters' contribution Product label to differentiate sustainable PVC products

in the marketplace Responsible purchasing, public and private

External stakeholders’ meetings NGOs, academia, government, brand holders, etc.

Promotion of VinylPlus worldwide

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257 kt of post-consumer PVC waste recycled in 2011

Third party verification of emission limits for PVC manufacturing completed. Compliance 96%.

Lead stabilisers substitution well ahead of schedule. Reduction of 81.8% in lead stabiliser consumption from 200 until 2001

Product label criteria defined in partnership with the building Research Establishment (BRE) a Certification body specialised in responsible sourcing

VinylPlus programme registered in the UN RIO+20 Registry of Voluntary Commitments

VinylPus included as best practice case study in the International Chamber of Commerce Green Economy Roadmap

Progress report reporting 2011 results audited and published

VinylPlus: achievements today

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Rio+20: Ban urges world leaders to build on sustainable development commitments Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo/Maria Elisa Franco 22 June 2012 –

In his remarks at the ceremony, the UN chief said he was also encouraged by the more than 700 concrete commitments registered at the Conference from governments, business, industry, financial institutions and civil society among other groups.

A wide range of actions have also been pledged, such as planting 100 million trees, empowering 5,000 women entrepreneurs in green economy businesses in Africa, and recycling 800,000 tons of polyvinyl chloride (commonly known as PVC) – one of the most widely used plastics – per year.

The future ahead

The industry is on the right path to achieve the objectives set in the Voluntary Commitment

An expanded, more competitive industry is being created :

Investment on R&D to create innovative processes , solutions and products

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New applications More jobs

Increased efficiency

Less energy-intensive

For Additional Information

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www.vinylplus.eu

Some regulatory challenges in Europe

RoHS Serious attempts to ban PVC, but… In the end, no change

Lead and cadmium restricted No restriction on PVC and other additives

REACH Not an issue for PVC resin and VC monomer EDC on Candidate List, potentially subject to authorisation Four low molecular phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, DiBP

Restriction proposal not supported by EU Committees Authorisation will be necessary as from 2015 Issue for PVC recycling: Domino effect?

WASTE LEGISLATION ‘End of Waste’ criteria for plastics Review of hazardous waste criteria

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Other challenges in Europe

Economic crisis hits construction and hence PVC Recycling activities also affected

Eco-labels and ‘green’ public procurement PVC still occasionally discriminated Opportunity for recycling

PVC substitution actions by brand holders and a few retailers VinylPlus is a big help

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Thank you

Contact us

VinylPlus head officeBrigitte DeroAvenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4/3 B-1160 BrusselsBelgiumTelephone +32 (0)2 676 74 45 Fax + 32 (0)2 676 7447 E-mail info@vinylplus.eu

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http://www.vinylplus.eu/