Today marks the launch of the new VinylCycle Label, representing a collaborative partnership between the Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA) and GECA to verify recycled PVC content claims, encourage uptake of recycled PVC and product design innovation.

The VCA, in conjunction with GECA and with consultation from VCA members and the broader PVC, or vinyl, industry, has developed 'The Specifications for the Verification of Recycled PVC Content Claims in PVC Products'. The primary purpose of the specifications is to define criteria for the verification of products claiming to be made wholly or partially from recycled PVC or vinyl. Claims shall consist of the manufacturer or distributor indicating the minimum percentage of recycled PVC content in a particular product range. VinylCycle is available to applicants claiming at least 10% of the PVC compound (by weight) constitutes recycled PVC.

"Each step we take towards a circular economy is important for Australia to achieve its ambitious waste reduction targets," says the Hon Trevor Evans MP, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management. "The new VinylCycle Label brings the PVC sector one step closer to a circular economy. I look forward to seeing the increasing circularity of vinyls, including the outcomes of the federal government's investments in vinyl recycling made under the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund."

"The VinylCycle Specifications and label are an initiative arising from the Australian industry's PVC Stewardship Program which encourages manufacturers and distributors of PVC products to use recyclate," Vinyl Council CEO Sophi MacMillan explained. "We are pleased to be able to work in collaboration with GECA to authenticate claims and we hope the label plays a role in supporting the Federal Government's ReMade in Australia campaign through providing means for identification and recognition of products with PVC recyclate."

GECA, a purpose-driven not for profit, helping individuals and organisations to make, buy and do better for people and planet, will assess the claim. GECA's Claims Authentication service follows internationally recognised ISO 14021 principles. To verify a VinylCycle claim, a GECA technical specialist checks all documentation to ensure credibility. GECA is widely respected and recognised in Australia and globally by green building schemes, including Green Star, LEED, IS Rating Scheme, the International WELL Building Institute, NABERS, and many procurement channels in government, education, hospitality, business and the consumer sector.  

"We're thrilled to be partnering with VCA to launch the VinylCycle label. Together we aim to recognise those VCA members adopting circular solutions by using recycled PVC in their products. At GECA, our role is to ensure that claims of recycled PVC are transparent and accurate," says Michelle Thomas, GECA CEO.

VinylCycle verification will aid specifiers, procurers, and consumers in identifying products with genuine recycled content to support informed procurement decisions and provide a means for product manufacturers to gain recognition for contributing to the circular economy of PVC and plastics more generally. It further provides a system to help maintain identification of recyclate through the supply chain from waste recovery to product use.  

Recycled PVC products may be environmentally preferable based on reduced demand for virgin PVC materials, reduced embodied energy and reduced amounts of PVC waste going to landfill. 

Please CLICK HERE to find out more about the VinylCycle specification and claims authentication process.

The UK-based Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) has announced it will be moving its triennial global conference, PVC 2021 to an online format.

Focusing on 'Success and Innovation in the Circular Economy', it will run as a fully interactive, virtual conference experience between 10 and 12 May 2021, with emphasis on delivering the exceptional engagement, networking and knowledge exchange between participants, for which the PVC conference series is renowned.

The Vinyl Council of Australia is again proud to partner with this leading event for the vinyl industry.

Usually staged in the UK, as a virtual conference this year, it offers a chance for more participants in the Australasian PVC industry to attend, with the possibility of creating a personalised schedule, networking with attendees (instant chat feature), visiting exhibitors and joining sessions at a click of a button. Registration offers on-demand access after the event and a book of detailed technical conference papers.

Dr Jason Leadbitter, Chair of the PVC organising committee and Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Inovyn, says, ‘I’m delighted to see the relaunch and opportunity for a fully virtual event that provides a unique opportunity to have the highest-ever participation to either watch live or via immediate streaming. PVC 2021 presents a great opportunity – there is really no excuse to miss out on any presentation.’

PVC 2021 is the world’s leading conference on Vinyl and this year’s theme will focus on ‘Success and Innovation in the Circular Economy,’ with an impressive line-up delivering a current, comprehensive and wide-ranging technical programme with 60 papers covering seven technical sessions, with speakers and discussion opportunities in between.

IOM3 CEO Dr Colin Church CEnv FIMMM, says, ‘The PVC conference series is rightly praised for the extremely high standard of its technical content, and going virtual means this will be accessible for a wider audience than ever. Coupled with the exciting networking opportunities the virtual conference platform offers, PVC 2021 will be an unmissable event for all in the sector.’

Registration to attend PVC 2021 is now live. To find out more about this year’s event and to register, visit www.iom3.org/events-awards/pvc-2021.html