Summary of Key Commitments and Progress

Issue         

2006 Commitment

Progress as at end 2006

2007 Commitment

one: Production and storage

VCM in finished resin

Residual VCM in finished resin powder (including imported by traders and converters) not greater than 1 ppm.

Achieved by resin manufacturer and resin converters and traders.

Ongoing

VCM emissions resulting from manufacturing

VCM emissions no greater than 50g / tonne PVC

Achieved Emissions of less than 18g / tonne PVC.

Ongoing

Environmental management systems at manufacturing and storage sites

To encourage and support advances in environmental management of Signatory operations.
All Signatories to work towards reaching or exceeding the Minimum Acceptable Standard.

12 signatories reported meeting the Minimum Standard.
7 are in the process of meeting the Standard.
1 reported it had not yet started the process of working towards meeting the Minimum Standard.

Ongoing.

two: The use of lead and cadmium stabilisers

Code of Practice

Adherence to the industry Code of Practice for safe use of additives.

Code updated to recognise completed phase out of cadmium stabilisers, timetable for lead phase out and review of pigments.
Signatories confirmed adherence to Code.

Ongoing.

Cadmium use

New Signatories to the Program who are using cadmium stabilisers to agree to a specific phase out date upon signing.

The one Signatory using cadmium stabilisers in 2005, committed to phase out their use by 31 December 2006. The status as at end of 2006 is unknown as the cadmium-using business was sold in November 2006.

Maintain commitment to avoid the use of cadmium stabilisers

Lead use

To phase out the use of lead stabilisers with target phase out dates of 2008 for pipes and fittings and 2010 for other applications.

On track. Good progress being made by pipe and cable sectors.
Cable sector phase out due to be completed by end 2007.
Data on stabiliser use shows rise in alternatives to lead stabilisers.

Ongoing

Pigments

To continue the review of pigment use and by 2007, develop a commitment on the use of lead, cadmium and hexavalent chrome pigments by Signatories.

Review completed. New Commitment issued to reduce the use of these pigments (see P.11).

Adherence to new Commitment including substitution of heavy metal pigments by 2010 where technically feasible and alternatives are available.

Other additives

To monitor any pertinent overseas developments

Continued monitoring and sharing of information eg on tin, calcium zinc, organic based stabilisers, bisphenol A etc.

Ongoing

three: The use of phthalate plasticisers

Phthalate plasticisers

To implement the industry Policy on phthalate use.

To share relevant information with NICNAS.

In force.

A number of meetings and discussions were held with NICNAS.

Ongoing

Ongoing

four: Waste management

National Packaging Covenant

All relevant Signatories to have submitted waste management Action Plans under the NPC and to maintain compliance with NPC obligations.

All relevant Signatories are signed up. Action Plans have been lodged by three of four Signatories.

Ongoing.

Recycling

To develop an Action Plan for waste management of key applications by 2006.

Vinyl-2-life waste action plan completed, April 2006.

Ongoing implementation of Vinyl-2-life Action Plan

To implement commitments contained in Vinyl-2-Life action plan.

Underway. Some have been completed, some still in process and some new actions have been set (refer Appendix).

Ongoing

To monitor overseas developments.

Research was commissioned to provide information on European recycling technology.
Other recycling developments overseas noted.

ongoing

Encouraging consumer responsible care

New commitment to provide information to end consumers on management options for end-of-life PVC.

A proforma document developed to assist Signatories to provide such information to end users, via websites and marketing literature.
Signatories starting to implement.

All Signatories to complete by end 2007

Life cycle thinking

To consider whole-of-life in the development of new products, taking into account end-of-life issues and waste management options.

Initiatives include focusing on end-oflife product issues, recycling, energy efficiency and material efficiency.

Ongoing.

five: Research

Research

To monitor national and international scientific research and share pertinent information with signatories and stakeholders.

Information on a range of issues and matters was shared with Technical Steering Group members and/or Signatories (see P.17).

Ongoing

six: Public reporting