Over the past few decades, the landscape of PVC usage has transformed dramatically, reflecting a pursuit of innovation and sustainability. Today's advancements are not merely adjustments; they signify a meaningful shift toward replacing restricted additives with new formulations that prioritize both safety and ecological responsibility.
PVC, renowned for its remarkable versatility, durability, and exceptional cost-to-performance ratio, is utilized in a myriad of applications—ranging from building materials like doors, windows, cladding, flooring, and membranes, to essential systems such as pipes and fittings. This widespread applicability speaks volumes about PVC’s capability to deliver reliable service over many years, rivaling even the longevity of metals and ceramics—a notable achievement for any polymer.
Insight
Achieving this level of performance is no small feat; it involves navigating the complexities of material science with a wealth of expertise to provide tailored solutions at viable costs. At Benvic, we pride ourselves on our extensive foundational knowledge and the valuable insights gleaned from practical field experiences. This unique blend empowers us to craft high-quality PVC compounds that meet and exceed market demands.
However, while PVC has consistently proven itself as an effective material today, we must consider its role for the future, especially amidst growing scrutiny regarding its chlorine content and the general movement towards reducing plastic consumption.
Fortunately, our understanding of environmental impacts has greatly evolved, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in every facet of industrial production. We have one planet, and it’s vital we protect it. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an instrumental tool in this effort, serving as a thorough evaluation of a product's environmental impact throughout its entire life span. Traditionally associated with measuring greenhouse gas emissions, LCA now provides a solid framework for analysing all products and their influences on the environment. Armed with this information, engineers and designers can make informed, efficient choices that resonate with consumers who are increasingly concerned about sustainability. This focus on environmental performance is essential in maintaining competitiveness, even if it means reassessing costs.
In numerous applications, enhancing LCA outcomes necessitates a thoughtful reconsideration of material choices based on specific performance criteria, functional needs, and financial factors. What has been accepted for decades now requires reexamination and careful integration with contemporary standards. PVC brings its unique strengths to the table, particularly because it is not wholly sourced from ethylene; with chlorine being a crucial component, it can actually contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, a major cornerstone of reducing environmental impact lies in the potential of recycling. By emphasizing recycled content, we can mitigate carbon loss through landfilling and incineration, achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Such as the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) set for 2024, there’s a clear directive for integrating substantial proportions of recycled content in products. We believe that the future of PVC is intrinsically tied to effective recycling strategies. Implementing widespread PVC recycling is no straightforward task. Thanks to its durability, post-consumer PVC often harbors legacy additives that are no longer permissible in new formulations. While certain regulations currently allow temporary exemptions—especially for rigid PVC—soft PVC faces greater challenges. This scenario demonstrates the necessity for deeper understanding and streamlined processes in recycling. That’s why Benvic is taking the forefront by evolving into a recycler-compounder. Our goal is to establish a controlled, in-house mechanical recycling process that yields secondary raw material (SRM) with impeccable traceability, thorough legacy additive assessments, color sorting, and specialized testing, like the QB34 certification in France.
However, even with these advancements, SRM performance might not always meet the rigorous demands of end applications. This is where the recycler-compounder model becomes essential, enabling us to maintain product consistency and performance while promoting circularity. While mechanical recycling extends our capability, it still falls short of accommodating all post-consumer waste. The extraction of certain legacy additives, such as phthalates, remains a challenge, along with managing byproducts from mechanical recycling. Exciting developments in recycling technologies hold the promise of integrating a broader range of feedstocks in the future, where our formulation expertise will be invaluable.
It’s worth noting that LCA doesn’t end with components or parts; it applies to entire systems, such as buildings. PVC—whether in its virgin or recycled state—excels at accommodating various fillers sourced from agricultural by-products or recycled materials, enhancing both performance and sustainability. Given the extended service life of construction elements, they present an exceptional opportunity to store these materials long-term, meaning that carbon can be sequestered effectively within the infrastructure. In conclusion, PVC can play a pivotal role not just in construction or civil engineering but also in optimizing environmental impact by creatively integrating biobased or recycled content. This approach unveils exciting new possibilities, enabling us to forge ahead in building a sustainable future.
Let's discuss about it during the K2025 show in Düsseldorf, we are in Hall 8a – Stand F12.
