PVC RECYCLING AND THE FUTURE OF PVC

PVC is one of the most commonly used plastics, for sustainability, strength and other purposes, it remains one of the top polymers in use today. Recycled PVC is slowly being introduced to the UK plastic’s industry, so we’ve decided to give you a run down of the current state of PVC recycling and the future of this. We have been using recycled PVC for a long time at Rayda, so we are well versed with the advantages of using this plastic in a sustainable way. The Current State of PVC PVC is loved widely for sustainability reasons as its make-up (at 57% rock salt and 43% oil) contains less carbon than most other thermoplastics. PVC can be recycled up to 8 times, this is because the process doesn’t actually change the chain length of PVC molecules. This means it can be reused time and time again with no negative effects to its strength or other capabilities. Currently, PVC waste accounts for less than 0.4% of the total amount of construction waste, this is according to European Commission of DG Environment. PVC Recycling and Advancements Currently, there are two main ways of recycling PVC that are widely used across the UK: Mechanical recycling – mechanically treating or grinding the waste to reduce it into smaller particles that can then be remelted into different products. Feedstock recycling – chemical processes are used to break the waste down into its chemical components. This produces the materials used to make new batches of PVC. PVC contributes significantly to energy efficiency, this is via its low thermal conductivity. PVC has a lot of heat insulation. Most commonly, PVC is used to make recycled window profiles, and the energy efficiency of creating these profiles from 70% PVC can lead to savings of 50% in energy, and 60% in both air and water emissions respectively. Upon recycling, the formulation of PVC can be changed to alter and increase the safety and eco-efficiency of the product, without reducing the level of technical performance either. This is such a great benefit of recycling the product, not only is it more sustainable but it also improves upon its initial qualities with further use. The Future of PVC Currently governments worldwide, along with VinylPlus, a company dedicated to making the European PVC industry sustainable, are attempting to verify and certify companies who purchase recycled PVC to manufacture new products. This is to encourage others to buy from these suppliers. This could be consumers, businesses, municipalities, waste management companies, recyclers or converters. New programs are being constantly tested to innovate and develop new ways to achieve sustainability in the PVC industry, even if at present PVC recycling isn’t feasible everywhere. Here at Rayda, 97% of all of the PVC we buy in is recycled window frame. We recycle 100% of our own waste, and any packaging that comes into us, of which non is PVC, does go to 100% Zero to Landfill and we process 23,000 kgs of recycled PVC a month. We’re really doing our bit to ensure all of the plastic we manufacture is as sustainable as possible whilst also not compromising on quality. To find out more about us, take a look here.

For more information on PVC RECYCLING AND THE FUTURE OF PVC talk to Rayda Plastics Ltd