September 17, 2024 Can PVC be Recycled? The Truth About PVC in a Circular Economy Polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC, is a widely used plastic material in various industries. Known for its durability and versatility, PVC is used for multiple applications, ranging from pipes and cables to flooring and packaging. Despite its widespread use, concerns about the material’s environmental impact have raised questions such as: ‘What are the dangers of PVC?’, and ‘Can PVC be recycled?’. Working closely with our latest material partner Pretty Plastic, we explore the recyclability of PVC in this article and discuss the challenges and potential solutions for recycling this popular plastic material. PVC is largely used in door and window frames What is PVC? Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a type of plastic commonly used in construction, packaging, and other consumer products, as it’s one of the most cost-effective plastics available. Some of its key properties are its durability, resistance to chemicals, heat, water and moisture, low thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. PVC also doesn’t rust, degrade easily, or rot, which makes it ideal for applications like pipes, window and door frames, and siding in the construction industry. PVC is available in rigid (RPVC) and flexible (FPVC) forms. Why is PVC bad for the environment? The environmental impacts of PVC are many: The production of PVC is resource-intensive and environmentally damaging, as it relies on chlorine and ethylene, derived from salt and petroleum, respectively. The process releases toxic chemicals like dioxins, harming the environment and human health. These dioxins can persist in the environment for years, contaminating air, water, and soil. Oil makes up 43% of the raw material required to make PVC1. A product that uses a non-renewable resource cannot be sustainable. Looking at waste, 82% of global PVC waste goes to landfill, 15% is incinerated. Only 3% is recycled1. The majority of PVC waste comes from the construction industry, which is logical, as 70% of PVC is used in the construction sector2. From PVC waste... ... to Pretty Plastic Panels! Is PVC recyclable? The short answer is yes, PVC recycling is possible. However, there are challenges associated with recycling PVC compared to other types of plastics due to additives like plasticisers, stabilisers, and fillers used in production. These additives alter its properties and can affect the quality of the recycled material, making it less suitable for certain applications. PVC waste is also often contaminated with other materials, such as adhesives, paints, or metals, which complicates the recycling process and may require extensive cleaning. One of the main disadvantages of PVC when it comes to recycling, is that the material can release harmful chemicals when it is melted down, which can be detrimental to the environment and human health. Rigid PVC is often easier to recycle than flexible PVC due to fewer additives. Separating these types of PVC for recycling is necessary, as they cannot be processed together. How can PVC be recycled? With growing environmental concerns, PVC recycling technologies have improved, and there are currently two main ways to recycle PVC products: 1. Mechanical Recycling 2. Chemical Recycling Mechanical recycling involves shredding the PVC into small pieces and melting it to create new products. There are a lot of steps involved in this process, as the PVC products need to be collected, sorted, shredded, ground, washed and melted, before being able to re-extrude into granules or pellets. These are then used as raw materials for manufacturing new PVC products. Chemical recycling breaks the PVC into its original chemical components through high-temperature processes. This method is useful for PVC waste that cannot be mechanically recycled due to contamination or complex additives. In addition to traditional recycling methods, some companies specialise in recycling PVC specifically, such as our partner Pretty Plastic. They have developed innovative technologies that allow them to recycle PVC more efficiently and safely. Introducing Pretty Plastic Panels Offering both high performance and a unique aesthetic, Pretty Plastic Panels make a bold statement about the potential of recycled waste in design. Designed for easy disassembly and reuse, and fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, this is your long-lasting solution for circular wall and roof cladding. Find out more What happens to PVC that cannot be recycled? In cases where recycling is not feasible due to contamination, degradation or the high costs involved with separate waste collection, PVC waste may be incinerated to recover energy. The incineration of PVC can release toxic gases like dioxins and hydrogen chloride, which require advanced filtration systems to prevent environmental harm. Therefore, energy recovery is typically considered a last resort for PVC disposal. Are there PVC recycling initiatives in Europe? VinylPlus® is the European PVC industry’s Commitment to sustainable development. Through VinylPlus, the European PVC industry is creating a long-term sustainability framework for the entire PVC value chain, improving PVC products’ sustainability and circularity and their contribution to a sustainable society. It covers the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. VinylPlus is committed to recycling at least 900,000 tonnes per year of PVC waste into new products by 2025 and 1 million tonnes by 2030. In 2023, 737,645 tonnes of PVC waste were recycled within the VinylPlus framework, of which 61.7% was pre-consumer waste and 38.3% post-consumer waste. More details about this initiative and the latest statistics can be found on the website of VinylPlus. PVC waste can be difficult to recycle What is the future of PVC recycling? While PVC is a widely used and versatile material in many industries, its recyclability remains a topic of debate as the recycling process is complex and not widely implemented. Unfortunately, the statistics on PVC waste generation and management globally and for specific countries are surprisingly poor, and government waste policies and management strategies are formed around the largely underexplored environmental impacts of PVC waste. PVC recycling has the potential to improve significantly with advances in recycling technology and increased environmental awareness. Some promising developments include innovative sorting technologies, additive-free PVC development and chemical recycling innovations. For example, optical sorting technologies can help improve the efficiency of separating PVC from other materials, reducing contamination. Advanced chemical recycling technologies, such as depolymerisation and pyrolysis, may allow for more effective recycling of mixed or contaminated PVC waste. We embrace future innovations at FRONT®, and we are also about taking action RIGHT NOW. That is why we are proud to add the Pretty Plastic Panels to our collection. These 100% recycled PVC waste panels upcycle 24.2 kg of plastic waste per square meter, are durable, fire-resistant, feature a unique, varied appearance and are designed to withstand the elements. Discover how they are made > Sources 1] World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report “Window of opportunity”, 2005 & European Commission report “Economic Evaluation of PVC Waste Management”, 2000 2] VinylPlus report “Is PVC a Problematic Plastic?”, 2024
PVC is largely used in door and window frames What is PVC? Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a type of plastic commonly used in construction, packaging, and other consumer products, as it’s one of the most cost-effective plastics available. Some of its key properties are its durability, resistance to chemicals, heat, water and moisture, low thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. PVC also doesn’t rust, degrade easily, or rot, which makes it ideal for applications like pipes, window and door frames, and siding in the construction industry. PVC is available in rigid (RPVC) and flexible (FPVC) forms. Why is PVC bad for the environment? The environmental impacts of PVC are many: The production of PVC is resource-intensive and environmentally damaging, as it relies on chlorine and ethylene, derived from salt and petroleum, respectively. The process releases toxic chemicals like dioxins, harming the environment and human health. These dioxins can persist in the environment for years, contaminating air, water, and soil. Oil makes up 43% of the raw material required to make PVC1. A product that uses a non-renewable resource cannot be sustainable. Looking at waste, 82% of global PVC waste goes to landfill, 15% is incinerated. Only 3% is recycled1. The majority of PVC waste comes from the construction industry, which is logical, as 70% of PVC is used in the construction sector2. From PVC waste... ... to Pretty Plastic Panels! Is PVC recyclable? The short answer is yes, PVC recycling is possible. However, there are challenges associated with recycling PVC compared to other types of plastics due to additives like plasticisers, stabilisers, and fillers used in production. These additives alter its properties and can affect the quality of the recycled material, making it less suitable for certain applications. PVC waste is also often contaminated with other materials, such as adhesives, paints, or metals, which complicates the recycling process and may require extensive cleaning. One of the main disadvantages of PVC when it comes to recycling, is that the material can release harmful chemicals when it is melted down, which can be detrimental to the environment and human health. Rigid PVC is often easier to recycle than flexible PVC due to fewer additives. Separating these types of PVC for recycling is necessary, as they cannot be processed together. How can PVC be recycled? With growing environmental concerns, PVC recycling technologies have improved, and there are currently two main ways to recycle PVC products: 1. Mechanical Recycling 2. Chemical Recycling Mechanical recycling involves shredding the PVC into small pieces and melting it to create new products. There are a lot of steps involved in this process, as the PVC products need to be collected, sorted, shredded, ground, washed and melted, before being able to re-extrude into granules or pellets. These are then used as raw materials for manufacturing new PVC products. Chemical recycling breaks the PVC into its original chemical components through high-temperature processes. This method is useful for PVC waste that cannot be mechanically recycled due to contamination or complex additives. In addition to traditional recycling methods, some companies specialise in recycling PVC specifically, such as our partner Pretty Plastic. They have developed innovative technologies that allow them to recycle PVC more efficiently and safely. Introducing Pretty Plastic Panels Offering both high performance and a unique aesthetic, Pretty Plastic Panels make a bold statement about the potential of recycled waste in design. Designed for easy disassembly and reuse, and fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle, this is your long-lasting solution for circular wall and roof cladding. Find out more What happens to PVC that cannot be recycled? In cases where recycling is not feasible due to contamination, degradation or the high costs involved with separate waste collection, PVC waste may be incinerated to recover energy. The incineration of PVC can release toxic gases like dioxins and hydrogen chloride, which require advanced filtration systems to prevent environmental harm. Therefore, energy recovery is typically considered a last resort for PVC disposal. Are there PVC recycling initiatives in Europe? VinylPlus® is the European PVC industry’s Commitment to sustainable development. Through VinylPlus, the European PVC industry is creating a long-term sustainability framework for the entire PVC value chain, improving PVC products’ sustainability and circularity and their contribution to a sustainable society. It covers the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. VinylPlus is committed to recycling at least 900,000 tonnes per year of PVC waste into new products by 2025 and 1 million tonnes by 2030. In 2023, 737,645 tonnes of PVC waste were recycled within the VinylPlus framework, of which 61.7% was pre-consumer waste and 38.3% post-consumer waste. More details about this initiative and the latest statistics can be found on the website of VinylPlus. PVC waste can be difficult to recycle What is the future of PVC recycling? While PVC is a widely used and versatile material in many industries, its recyclability remains a topic of debate as the recycling process is complex and not widely implemented. Unfortunately, the statistics on PVC waste generation and management globally and for specific countries are surprisingly poor, and government waste policies and management strategies are formed around the largely underexplored environmental impacts of PVC waste. PVC recycling has the potential to improve significantly with advances in recycling technology and increased environmental awareness. Some promising developments include innovative sorting technologies, additive-free PVC development and chemical recycling innovations. For example, optical sorting technologies can help improve the efficiency of separating PVC from other materials, reducing contamination. Advanced chemical recycling technologies, such as depolymerisation and pyrolysis, may allow for more effective recycling of mixed or contaminated PVC waste. We embrace future innovations at FRONT®, and we are also about taking action RIGHT NOW. That is why we are proud to add the Pretty Plastic Panels to our collection. These 100% recycled PVC waste panels upcycle 24.2 kg of plastic waste per square meter, are durable, fire-resistant, feature a unique, varied appearance and are designed to withstand the elements. Discover how they are made > Sources 1] World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report “Window of opportunity”, 2005 & European Commission report “Economic Evaluation of PVC Waste Management”, 2000 2] VinylPlus report “Is PVC a Problematic Plastic?”, 2024
