The banner and signage industry in Australia may now benefit from such progress with the first company in the sector, Rojo Pacific Pty Ltd, to sign up to the Program.
Launched by the PVC industry in 2002, the PVC Product Stewardship Program is a series of commitments agreed to by Signatory companies. The Program sets realistic time frames for the delivery of key undertakings in manufacturing, the safe use of additives, waste management, life cycle thinking, research and public reporting.
PVC - polyvinyl chloride - has been the subject of debate as to its environmental impact for some years yet at the same time, the versatility and properties of PVC - durability, ink adhesion, outdoor strength, UV stability, flexible finishing options, weld ability and opacity -have proven to be very useful to the signage industry.
In order to address the concerns, build on the polymer's inherent strengths and make PVC products more sustainable, the local vinyl industry took the initiative eight years ago to become responsible stewards of their products. As a result, signatories to this unique Australian program have phased out the use of lead and cadmium, reduced manufacturing emissions to world's best practice, improved environmental management of operations, adopted life cycle thinking in developing new products and commenced innovative recycling programs, such as Rojo Pacific's current recycling trials for post-consumer PVC sheeting.
Today, there are 34 signatories to the PVC "Product Stewardship Program from across the value chain of the vinyl industry in Australia including manufacturers, importers and suppliers to the sector.
"When the Program started in 2002, there was nothing like it in Australia," said Ms Sophi MacMillan, Chief Executive of the Vinyl Council of Australia, which oversees the Program.
"Since then, we have been able to demonstrate that a voluntary product stewardship approach can achieve real progress across an industry by enabling the sector to work together, with supply chains and stakeholders, to address the environmental footprint of its products."
"The PVC products of signatories engaged in this Program offer clear environmental advantages because of the commitment to responsible manufacturing and product life cycles."
Best Practice, Best Choice
Many of the historical concerns related to manufacturing emissions, additives and end-of-life waste and disposal have been or are being addressed by the vinyl industry both locally and globally.
This progress is increasingly being recognised. The Green Building Council of Australia, for example, recently reviewed the issue of PVC use in green buildings. Following a comprehensive literature review and consultation with stakeholders, including the PVC industry, the organisation today recognises the use of PVC products that achieve best practice performance across the product's life cycle in Green Star projects.
The Green Building Council's report, Background and Outcomes of the Green Star PVC Credit Minimisation Credit Review, found that "the life cycle of PVC...had changed considerably over the past five years" as the industry addressed some of the historical concerns through the Product Stewardship Program.
The report states: "..environmental and human health risks associated with PVC can be minimised by using best practices in the manufacturing and end-of-life management phases of the PVC life cycle."
All materials have environmental impacts, so choosing which to use is a complex decision. Life cycle assessments have repeatedly shown that PVC products outperform alternatives on a whole-of-life basis. One advantage for example, is the embodied energy of PVC products. Unlike many plastics which are almost wholly derived from non-renewable oil, more than half of PVC's feedstock is salt, which is an abundantly available resource. Because it uses less oil for its feedstock, PVC is considered to be one of the least energy intensive of all thermoplastics and vinyl products are often found to have a lower embodied energy when compared to competing materials.
"Vinyl has many inherent advantages over other materials, meaning it performs well in terms of fitness for purpose and life cycle cost. Today, by choosing best practice PVC products, vinyl also has a credible environmental record", Ms MacMillan said.
For information about the Product Stewardship Program please contact the Vinyl Council on 03 9368 6230 or email info@pvcproductstewardship.org.au. Visit www.vinyl.org.au for more facts on PVC.
The Vinyl Council of Australia is working to advance the sustainability of the vinyl (or PVC) Industry in Australia. Its members are drawn across the supply chain of the vinyl industry.
Launched by the PVC industry in 2002, the PVC Product Stewardship Program is a series of commitments agreed to by Signatory companies. The Program sets realistic time frames for the delivery of key undertakings in manufacturing, the safe use of additives, waste management, life cycle thinking, research and public reporting.
PVC - polyvinyl chloride - has been the subject of debate as to its environmental impact for some years yet at the same time, the versatility and properties of PVC - durability, ink adhesion, outdoor strength, UV stability, flexible finishing options, weld ability and opacity -have proven to be very useful to the signage industry.
In order to address the concerns, build on the polymer's inherent strengths and make PVC products more sustainable, the local vinyl industry took the initiative eight years ago to become responsible stewards of their products. As a result, signatories to this unique Australian program have phased out the use of lead and cadmium, reduced manufacturing emissions to world's best practice, improved environmental management of operations, adopted life cycle thinking in developing new products and commenced innovative recycling programs, such as Rojo Pacific's current recycling trials for post-consumer PVC sheeting.
Today, there are 34 signatories to the PVC "Product Stewardship Program from across the value chain of the vinyl industry in Australia including manufacturers, importers and suppliers to the sector.
"When the Program started in 2002, there was nothing like it in Australia," said Ms Sophi MacMillan, Chief Executive of the Vinyl Council of Australia, which oversees the Program.
"Since then, we have been able to demonstrate that a voluntary product stewardship approach can achieve real progress across an industry by enabling the sector to work together, with supply chains and stakeholders, to address the environmental footprint of its products."
"The PVC products of signatories engaged in this Program offer clear environmental advantages because of the commitment to responsible manufacturing and product life cycles."
Best Practice, Best Choice
Many of the historical concerns related to manufacturing emissions, additives and end-of-life waste and disposal have been or are being addressed by the vinyl industry both locally and globally.
This progress is increasingly being recognised. The Green Building Council of Australia, for example, recently reviewed the issue of PVC use in green buildings. Following a comprehensive literature review and consultation with stakeholders, including the PVC industry, the organisation today recognises the use of PVC products that achieve best practice performance across the product's life cycle in Green Star projects.
The Green Building Council's report, Background and Outcomes of the Green Star PVC Credit Minimisation Credit Review, found that "the life cycle of PVC...had changed considerably over the past five years" as the industry addressed some of the historical concerns through the Product Stewardship Program.
The report states: "..environmental and human health risks associated with PVC can be minimised by using best practices in the manufacturing and end-of-life management phases of the PVC life cycle."
All materials have environmental impacts, so choosing which to use is a complex decision. Life cycle assessments have repeatedly shown that PVC products outperform alternatives on a whole-of-life basis. One advantage for example, is the embodied energy of PVC products. Unlike many plastics which are almost wholly derived from non-renewable oil, more than half of PVC's feedstock is salt, which is an abundantly available resource. Because it uses less oil for its feedstock, PVC is considered to be one of the least energy intensive of all thermoplastics and vinyl products are often found to have a lower embodied energy when compared to competing materials.
"Vinyl has many inherent advantages over other materials, meaning it performs well in terms of fitness for purpose and life cycle cost. Today, by choosing best practice PVC products, vinyl also has a credible environmental record", Ms MacMillan said.
For information about the Product Stewardship Program please contact the Vinyl Council on 03 9368 6230 or email info@pvcproductstewardship.org.au. Visit www.vinyl.org.au for more facts on PVC.
The Vinyl Council of Australia is working to advance the sustainability of the vinyl (or PVC) Industry in Australia. Its members are drawn across the supply chain of the vinyl industry.
