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PVC: Safe & Sustainable
PVC: Safe & Sustainable
Shin-Etsu is committed to support the development of sustainability of PVC. We are actively supporting the industry efforts to improve the circularity of PVC. The collective cooperation VinylPlus is determined to tackle the challenges in recycling and to create a sustainable PVC market.
Sustainablility of PVC
PVC contains 57% chlorine, which makes it less dependent on non-renewable raw materials, such as oil derivatives. The relative low cost of the material and its extreme durability makes PVC suitable for long term use under severe circumstances.
Therefore, it’s widely used in the building & construction sector (70%) where products have long lifecycles.
PVC pipes can last for a hundred years without any problems, due to their good mechanical properties. Window profiles of PVC are ecological friendly products, because homes are much better isolated and need less energy to be heated. Due to easy handling during transport and installation of these light-weight products lower energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions are achieved.
| Safety of PVCPVC is a safe material. Continuous research and development in the industry has proven that it can be used safely in critical applications. Already for decades it plays a very important role in the health and food sectors. It’s the only material to produce medical containers for blood that are saving lives every day. PVC has the right properties to contain fresh food longer and so limiting the waste of food. Also our drinking water comes to our homes safely through pipes produced from PVC.
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Recycling of PVC
PVC can be recycled multiple times without losing its properties. Recycling of PVC in Europe has increased significantly over the past twenty years. The entire European PVC industry has voluntary committed itself to increase the rate of recycling. As an industry we have set an example on how ambitious targets can be realized.
These ten year programs, called VinylPlus have been a great success so far. In 2019, around 770,000 tons of PVC was recycled. This should increase to 900,000 tons in 2025 and 1 million tons in 2030. Our industry initiative has been embraced by the European Commission's and recycling PVC has become an important part of their plans for a circular economy.
Please read more on the sustainability achievements on the VinylPlus page.