Sustainability mark for PVC products

The VinylPlus Product Label is the new sustainability mark for PVC building and construction products which, its promoters claim, deliver the highest functional performance and contribution to sustainability.

Currently, the scheme applies to PVC window profiles with the first six manufacturers – Deceuninck, Epwin Window Systems, Internorm, Rehau, Schüco and Veka – having been awarded the VinylPlus Product Label in 2018. Two further companies are undergoing the audit process.

“The VinylPlus Product Label audit was quite a challenge for us to organise, as it came on top of all the other auditing companies have to do these days,” Jürgen Herbe, head of public relations at Veka, said. “But, it was worthwhile and exciting to measure our sustainability work with a best of class standard.”

Easy to recognise, the certification was developed by VinylPlus, the voluntary commitment to sustainable development by the European PVC industry, in collaboration with BRE and TNS – The Natural Step.

The VinylPlus Product Label can apply to a PVC product or product family. It is awarded to VinylPlus partners whose overall policy and performance, as well as component materials used for products, fulfils eight key sustainability criteria categories, which include responsible sourcing of PVC resin and additives, controlled loop management and recycling, as well as sustainable energy policies, and organisational and supply chain management requirements.

“Our key objective with the VinylPlus Product Label is to help companies promote their products for their superior performance and their contribution to sustainability and a circular economy, thus embodying the spirit of the VinylPlus programme,” Brigitte Dero, VinylPlus general manager, said.

“Gaining the label enables businesses to set themselves apart and makes it easy for buyers and specifiers to identify their PVC products based on sustainability performance.”

The scheme is also designed to stimulate continuous progress in areas such as energy efficiency, new product innovation and raising sustainability awareness.