PVC industry moving towards best environmental performance
PVC industry moving towards best environmental performance - Vinyl Council Australia
Media Statement |
| Leading Australian vinyl product manufacturers and suppliers have reduced the use of lead-based stabilisers by 95 percent between 2005 and 2009, and are well on track to complete the voluntary phase out by the end of this year. According to the industry’s latest Product Stewardship Progress Report, just published by the Vinyl Council of Australia, this is one of six key commitments the PVC industry made eight years ago, all of which have driven the major part of the industry here towards significant environmental improvement in the life cycle of their products. The Chairman of the Product Stewardship Program’s Technical Steering Group, Mr George Macovaz said, “Compliance with this Program is helping to advance the supply of best environmental practice vinyl, or PVC, products to the Australian market.” “We have set some global best practice targets and companies signed up to this voluntary initiative have demonstrated it is possible to reach these,” Mr Macovaz added. The progress of the Australian PVC industry to improve the environmental performance of PVC products was a contributing factor to the recent decision of the Green Building Council of Australia to revise its approach to PVC in the Materials Category of the Green Star building rating tool. The tool now accepts the use of PVC and encourages the use of best practice PVC products. The Australian PVC industry’s Product Stewardship Program is a voluntary initiative which identifies and addresses environmental and health issues associated with the life cycle of PVC products. It includes a series of commitments agreed to by 29 Signatory companies, for the delivery of key undertakings across the life cycle of PVC within realistic time-frames. These undertakings include adhering to world-leading emission standards for resin manufacturing, reducing environmental impacts from additives and demonstrating extended producer responsibility. The Vinyl Council of Australia, as the industry’s peak association, encourages the industry to recognise its product stewardship responsibilities and, through its voluntary Program, has been working constructively to address genuine issues associated with the supply chain of PVC for the past twelve years. The Progress Report highlights developments during 2009, such as the local resin manufacturer’s compliance with a new and lower target for manufacturing emissions; the development of a pilot program to test the viability of collecting and recycling waste PVC medical devices including IV bags, oxygen masks and tubing from hospitals; and the undertaking of research into PVC waste recovery. “PVC products have many excellent attributes to contribute towards improving the sustainability of buildings, infrastructure and amenity in our lives today,” said Ms Sophi MacMillian, Chief Executive of the Vinyl Council of Australia. “Working with key stakeholders, our approach to product stewardship has been an important vehicle in advancing the sustainability of the Australian PVC industry with demonstrable outcomes.” For a copy of the full Report, please click here |
| For more information contact Tracy Morden, Vinyl Council of Australia, directly on 03 9368 4857. |
| info@vinyl.org.au. |
