Collaboration towards a circular economy for PVC, the journey towards net zero carbon and safe and sustainable additives will be among key topics discussed by a host of global experts at PVC AUS 2022, Australia’s premier vinyl conference, in Queensland from 7 to 9 June 2022.

Organised by the Vinyl Council of Australia at The Hilton, Surfers Paradise, the two-day conference brings together Australasia’s vinyl value chain to discuss key trends, issues and sustainability challenges influencing the region’s PVC sector.

The comprehensive two-day program themed around ‘Shared Horizons’ will feature policy, technical and case-study presentations along with panel discussions from a range of local and international expert speakers, as well as opportunities to network with key decision makers across the industry.

Supporting the event are headline sponsors Formosa Plastics Corporation, a vertically integrated supplier of plastic resin, fibre and petrochemicals, plastics extrusion technology leaders Battenfeld-Cincinnati and Greiner Extrusion GmbH, and powder handling specialists Idealtec. Gold sponsors are Akdeniz Chemson, Baerlocher, Deceuninck and Sun Ace.

Announcing the comprehensive program, Vinyl Council Chief Executive Sophi MacMillan says: “Following its postponement in 2020, our third biennial PVC AUS conference will bring the Australasian PVC industry together for the first time in four years.

“With close to two years of disruption to supply chains, working patterns and in-person events, the PVC industry has never before had more reason to come together to build new connections and discuss the latest in technical innovations, opportunities for sustainable industry development and planning for what is on the horizon.”

Key themes include collaboration with industry, government and stakeholder groups to find solutions to PVC circularity and reinforce the material’s role in a circular economy. This includes the challenge of transitioning to lower carbon PVC products, avoiding substances of high concern and shifting local uPVC window production to the next level.

The business case for addressing sustainability will be covered by Andrew Petersen, CEO of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia, Rob Coombs, Managing Director, ANZ, Interface and Gihan Perera, a Futurist and author, sponsored by Australian Vinyls.

Delegates will be updated on policies and government initiatives for Australia’s future use of plastics as well as hear from international guest speakers Jane Gardner of the European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute, Inna Jeschke from Inovyn and Jay Thomas, from the US Vinyl Sustainability Council on their latest initiatives driving progress towards a circular economy for vinyl.

Sophi continues: “Inspirational insights and discussion with our range of expert speakers will provide invaluable opportunities for exploring industry examples of strategic initiatives and leadership, increasing understanding of current policy settings and gaining key information on vinyl sustainability to share with customers and end markets.”

Australia’s PVC manufacturing industry consumes more than A$1 billion of raw materials annually and over A$3 billion of products containing PVC are sold in Australia.

Sophi adds: “From technical and case study presentations to informed debate, our PVC AUS 2022 event offers participants an unmatched opportunity to join in-person over 150 industry peers from across the Asia Pacific region and collaborate towards a shared horizon: a sustainable, resilient society and circular economy. We look forward to welcoming you to the first vinyl industry-wide event in four years!”

For more information and to register for the event, please visit https://vinyl.org.au/news/pvc-aus-2022

PVC AUS 2022 Program

Please note, timing and speakers in the program are still being finalised and may be subject to change.

Tuesday 7th June

5:30pm - 8:30pm: Welcome Drinks at TopGolf Gold Coast

Sponsored by Primaplas and PT Asahimas Chemical

Wednesday 8th June

8:00am - 12:30pm: Morning Session

8:00am: Registration Open

8:45am: OPENING REMARKS - MATTHEW HOYNE, VCA Chairman & SOPHI MACMILLAN, VCA CEO
Scene setting: A Shared Horizon - a circular economy for PVC, working together with industry and stakeholders to transform the way we design, produce and use PVC products

9:15am: STATE ADDRESS - The Hon. Meaghan Scanlon, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs (Pre-recorded presentation)
Plans for a circular economy and our future use of plastics

9:30am: ANDREW PETERSEN - CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia
Developing a business case for the transition of the vinyl industry to a circular, net zero economy

10:00am - 10:25am: Networking Break

CIRCULARITY & CARBON: POLICY & ACTION:

10:25am: TABOR AKMAN - Director, Product Stewardship, Waste Regulation and Stewardship Branch, Environment Protection Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Product Stewardship pathways to drive a circular economy

10:40am: KYLIE HUGHES - Director, Office of Resource Recovery, Department of Environment and Science Queensland
Waste avoidance & recovery policy followed by a short Q&A

11:05am: JANE GARDNER - Managing Director, European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute (Sponsored by the Australian Resilient Flooring Association)
Our road map towards a circular economy for resilient flooring in Europe

11:25am: CINDY BRAY - Executive General Manager, Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA)
How industry collaboration can change perception, educate, and provide valuable insights for a more sustainable future

11:40am: ANDREA WILDE - Senior Experimental Scientist, CSIRO Manufacturing
Developing analytical tools for reprocessors

11:50am: PANEL DISCUSSION - KYLIE HUGHES, TABOR AKMAN, JANE GARDNER and MATTHEW HOYNE, Facilitated by ROB McLORINAN
Current and future policies and programs that will guide the Australian plastics industry towards a low/zero carbon and circular business model

12:30pm: TROND STENGRIMSEN - Sales Manager, Idealtec Srl
Presentation on process

12:40pm - 1:45pm: Networking & Lunch Break

1:45pm - 4:30pm: Afternoon Session

SUSTAINABLE ADDITIVES FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY:

1:45pm: ALEXANDER SCOTT - PVC Stewardship Manager, VCA
Avoiding SVHCs and addressing open disclosure

2:05pm: JAY THOMAS - Executive Director, Vinyl Sustainability Council (Pre-recorded presentation)
Developing a methodology for assessing sustainability of additives

2:25pm: DR MARTIN STIMPSON - Market Development Manager, IXOM/Valtris Specialty Chemicals (Pre-recorded presentation)
A new bio-based option to replace general purpose plasticisers

2:45pm: Q&A - MATTHEW HYNES, DIETER KLAMANN and DAVID BAGGS, Facilitated by PETER BYRON (Chair of the Technical Steering Group)
Debate around what's better for the environment - recycling legacy additives or landfill?

3:00pm - 3:20pm: Networking break

NET ZERO ON THE HORIZON:

3:20pm: JORGE CHAPA - Head of Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia
How Green Star will drive towards a net zero built environment

3:40pm: ROB COOMBS - Managing Director, Interface Australia & New Zealand
The business case for action on climate

4:00pm: INNA JESCHKE - Polymers Business Unit Manager, Inovyn (Pre-recorded presentation)
The world’s first bio-attributed PVC

4:30pm: CLOSE OF DAY

6:30pm - 10:30pm: Formal VCA Awards Conference Dinner at SkyPoint Gold Coast

Sponsored by Viridian Glass and aluplast

Thursday 9th June

8:45am - 12:30pm: Morning Session

8:45pm: OPENING REMARKS - MATTHEW HOYNE, VCA Chairman

9:00am: GIHAN PERERA - Futurist (Sponsored by Australian Vinyls Corporation)
Fit for the Future: Megatrends and key business & innovation strategies for the industry moving forward

10:20am - 10:45am: Networking Break

10:45am: Parallel Sessions:

Stream 1: INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING & MARKETS:

10:45am: PETER HAMMER - Vice President Special Projects, Battenfeld-Cincinnati
Managing manufacturing data - the power of digitalisation

11:05am: NIGEL JONES - Technical Manager, Australian Vinyls - on behalf of Formosa Plastics Corporation
New PVC grades to deliver improved product performance

11:25am: ALIREZA ASHTARI - Manager, Global Plastic Services
Use of Nano fillers in rigid PVC

11:45am: DAMIEN DIGNEY - Managing Director, Repurpose Recycling
PVC Separation: Combining world patented technology & equipment to achieve the full material recovery capability

12:05pm: DICK MASON - Company Secretary, Shintech USA
An update on the US PVC market and resin production developments

Stream 2: uPVC WINDOWS: THE FUTURE OF WINDOWS IN AUSTRALIA: 

10:45am: GERHARD HOFFMANN - Head of Product Design & Innovations, Greiner Extrusion
The world market for uPVC Windows and lessons for Australian industry growth

11:05am: BRYN BUCKLEY - Technical Sales, Deceuninck
The economics of automation in window fabrication

11:25am: DAVID MOREHOUSE - Managing Director, AFRC Lab - on behalf of OptiSeal Australia
Innovation in installation: Improving ease and performance of uPVC window installation

11:45am: MICHAEL WARD - National Marketing and Business Development Manager, Australian Glass Group
NatHERS 7-star impact analysis

12:05pm: Q&A PANEL SESSION - SHANE HAWKINS, BEN WEBSTER, ADAM SOCHA and BRYN BUCKLEY, Facilitated by BRAD SCHARENGUIVEL
How best to support the growth of the local uPVC windows industry

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Networking & lunch break

1:30pm - 3:00pm: Afternoon Session

ON THE HORIZON:

1:30pm: SHANE WALDEN - Managing Director, ANL Container Line (Pre-recorded presentation)
Building Oceania’s Sustainable Shipping Network - Insights into shipping & freight market developments

2:00pm: TAPAS STRICKLAND - Director, Economics, Markets, Corporate & Institutional Banking, NAB
Australian economic update

2:45pm: CLOSING REMARKS - MATTHEW HOYNE, VCA Chairman

3:00pm: CONFERENCE CLOSE

PVC AUS 2022 Location and Hotel Information

PVC AUS 2022 will take place on the Gold Coast, Queensland, with the conference and related events taking place across the Hilton Hotel Surfers Paradise, TopGolf Gold Coast and SkyPoint Gold Coast.

Delegates are invited to stay at the Hilton Hotel, 6 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise for the duration of the conference, however all pre-assigned discounted rooms for PVC AUS conference delegates are now sold out so accommodation must now be booked by the attendee at normal rates.

Accommodation and Breakfast Packages available:

Unfortunately, we have now exhausted the number of allocated rooms held at the special discounted rate for PVC AUS delegates. Limited accommodation is still available at the Hilton Hotel but it is now up to attendees to book their own accommodation at normal rates.

PVC AUS 2022 Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thank you to our event sponsors!

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.

VinylCycle Label

The VinylCycle Label and verification process represent a collaborative partnership between the Vinyl Council of Australia (VCA) and GECA to verify recycled PVC content claims, encouraging recycled PVC uptake and related innovation.

The Vinyl Council of Australia, in conjunction with GECA and with consultation from VCA members and the broader PVC 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. Claims shall consist of the manufacturer or distributor indicating the minimum percentage of recycled PVC content in the product range produced or imported, and VinylCycle verification is available to both local and international applicants claiming at least 10% of the PVC compound (by weight) constitutes recycled PVC.

GECA, a well-known and trusted ecolabel, 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.

Products that have achieved VinylCycle authentication:

Cove Fillet - Armstrong Flooring

The VinylCycle Label builds on our PVC Stewardship Program (PSP) commitment to encourage the use of recycled PVC in products, which has seen PVC recyclate usage grow significantly since 2015. The launch of VinylCycle forms a key part of our ongoing strategy to increase the visibility of the recyclability and actual recycling of PVC, and to recognise companies in the sector that are using recycled PVC.

The use of PVC recyclate has numerous environmental benefits, including reducing the embodied energy of products and diverting waste from landfill. 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 both 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. 

Click here for the Information for Applicants booklet to access further details regarding the application process.

Applications can be submitted via the online form by clicking here.

If your company has any products in its range that are consistently manufactured with recycled PVC, apply for the label now to gain recognition for contributing to the circular economy of PVC!

A new record has been set in compliance with the Vinyl Council of Australia’s challenging, comprehensive material stewardship program. In the latest assessment of 47 companies’ annual performance, 24 demonstrated full compliance with sustainability objectives applicable to their businesses under the Australian PVC Stewardship Program (PSP).

“More than half of the participating Signatories have attained Gold Status, according to our updated data. This underlines our desire to see the vinyl sector continually improve with respect to their environmental sustainability,” says Vinyl Council of Australia Chief Executive, Sophi MacMillan.

A further 14 companies reached Silver status ensuring that 83% of all Signatories achieved 80% compliance or better; thereby achieving one of the key benchmarks set by the Program for greater sustainability.

Other significant highlights include the sustained year on year growth in the consumption domestically of PVC recyclate. This development, stemming from a commitment introduced in 2016 to use recycled PVC, has seen Australian manufacturing signatories consume over 1,400 tonnes in 2020, up from nearly 776 tonnes in 2019. Since 2016 nearly 13,400 tonnes have been used in Signatories’ locally-made and imported products.

“This is an appreciable uplift and is consistent with our aspiration to see our members play an active role in supporting the circular economy,” continues Sophi.

To further drive PVC recycling in Australia and meet a growing demand for PVC recyclate by manufacturers, the Council in collaboration with the Specialised Textiles Association, in late 2020 secured a $350,000 Federal Government Product Stewardship Investment grant for the TexBack project. It will explore development of technology solutions and a stewardship program for PVC-polyester composite textile wastes.

The Council’s PVC Recycling in Hospitals scheme, operated with PSP Signatories Baxter Healthcare and Welvic Australia, now has over 250 participants across the country recovering PVC medical waste for local recycling. In 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic challenges, the program collected 129 tonnes of medical PVC recyclate - equivalent to about 6.45 million IV bags.

The PSP also drives industry’s commitment to the safe and sustainable use of additives. All relevant Signatories attained full compliance with this commitment in 2020, including no use of hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chrome. Modern PVC products from Signatories contain no hazardous substances, and the industry is committed to advancing both the sustainability and circularity of its products.

PVC is a particularly versatile and durable polymer, providing safe, functional and affordable solutions for society’s needs, from delivering drinking water to life-saving medical devices. The PSP program addresses specific, measurable commitments across five key themes associated with the life cycle of PVC: best practice manufacturing, safe and sustainable use of additives, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, and transparency and engagement.

Through the program, the Council and its Signatories continually explore ways in which outcomes can be further enhanced, either through the introduction of new commitments or by raising the bar on existing benchmarks. In 2020, many Signatories exceeded compliance in relation to energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission management commitments. This year, the Council will examine driving further improvement given rising concerns over climate change and fossil fuel consumption.

“We welcome our new Signatories, Think Fencing and Dunlop Flooring, who joined the Program in 2020 and look forward to working with them going forward. Congratulations to window system supplier, Profine, who made considerable advancements during the past year and The Andrews Group, Breathe Fresh, Sekisui Rib Loc, and Stormtech who attained Gold Status for the first time,” says Sophi.

Any company manufacturing or supplying PVC, or vinyl, products to the Australian market is welcome to participate in the PVC Stewardship Program. 

The 2020 Progress Report for the PSP is now available here on the Vinyl Council’s website. Forty-six Signatories completed the annual assessment, 10 of which were independently verified by EY. A list of Signatories that achieved the Excellence Award (Gold Status) can be found on the Vinyl Council’s website or by clicking here.

The Vinyl Council of Australia is pressing the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) to exempt uPVC window frames and sashes from non-combustibility requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume One (Clause C2D10).

In its Proposal for Change, the Council is seeking to modify the Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) requirements with a concession for window sashes and frames from the non-combustibility requirements for external walls of buildings over three storeys.

In support of its submission, the Council highlights evidence showing that uPVC (unplasticized or rigid PVC) window frames do not pose a significant risk of accelerating the spread of fire on an external wall compared to a non-combustible, or metal, frame.

Furthermore, the acceptable Verification Methodology CV3 for assessing external walls, AS 5113:2016, is not designed or suitable for testing the fire performance of window frames.

Without a DTS solution, it effectively means that uPVC and timber window frames can no longer be used in some residential buildings of three storeys or more without a Performance Solution being commissioned for the specific project.

“Evidence shows uPVC window frames and sashes make negligible contribution to the spread of a building fire on external walls due to the relatively small material contribution from window frames and the self-extinguishing nature of uPVC. Physical fire testing overseas has shown that uPVC exhibits good fire resistance values,” says Sophi MacMillan, Chief Executive of the Vinyl Council of Australia.

“The change is proposed on the basis that the non-combustibility test excludes some materials that would not be expected to propagate fire, nor contribute significantly to the fuel load of an external fire or the spread of fire on the facade but have other desirable energy efficiency and acoustic insulation properties.”

She points out that the current Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions in NCC 2019 Volume One provide concessions for other elements of the window, such as glass, sealants, gaskets, caulking, and thermal breaks associated with glazing systems. The Public Comment Draft of NCC 2022 adds additional combustible window and glazing elements such as construction packers and compressible foams, but not the frames.

Radiant heat from a building façade fire will likely cause these concession elements and the glazing to fail before the frame does, which allows embers to enter the interior and ignite window furnishings or any other combustible materials adjacent to the window.

Recently, several jurisdictions have reviewed and, in some cases, tightened external wall non-combustibility requirements following major building fires, such as the 2017 fire in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower, London. However, exemptions or concessions for uPVC window and door frames have been confirmed on the basis that combustible frames would not be expected to propagate a building fire or add a significant amount to the fuel load of an external wall fire.

The Council argues that enabling the concession for window frames in the NCC 2022 will improve design choice and the transition towards higher performing windows without compromising fire safety.

In Europe and North America, uPVC windows are the most specified type due to their exceptionally good energy efficiency performance, Sophi points out. “Here in Australia, the overly restrictive requirements under the current NCC DTS provisions limit the opportunity for the construction industry to transition to well-proven, higher-performing windows from an energy and acoustic insulation perspective.”

The Building Code is generally amended on three-year cycles with the Public Comment Draft of the NCC 2022 released for consultation in May 2021.

In early April, the Council heard that their Proposal for Change was not accepted for inclusion in the Public Comment Draft of the 2022 Code.

Sophi adds: “This is disappointing news and means a substantial delay for us in addressing this issue before the next update in 2025. Many buildings and their residents seeking to retrofit energy efficient windows will now be disadvantaged.

“Our efforts are now focussed on gaining further supportive evidence for the suitability of the change, including more appropriate test methodologies for assessing the fire safety of window frames.

“Of course, we want to ensure buildings are safe in the event of a fire. However, a uPVC window frame does not pose a significant risk of accelerating exterior surface flame spread compared to a non-combustible window frame.

“The increasing use of uPVC over the last six decades in construction has led to a thorough assessment of its fire performance that attest to the safety of its use.”

For more information contact 03 9510 1711 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.