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.
