SAVA changed perceptions about green credentials of PVC

L-R: Dr Valerie Green of the NBI with Delanie Bezuidenhout and Dr Claus Maurer of SAVA

"Despite prolonged industrial action, very low economic growth and some political disarray, our member companies have managed to hold firm to their commitment of ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of PVC as was pledged with the signing of the Product Stewardship Programme (PSP)," Bezuidenhout said.

SAVA has succeeded in causing perceptions to be changed with regards to the safety of PVC, its recyclability and green credentials through ongoing efforts and engaging with stakeholders.

"However, we realise that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as more and more substances are being restricted on a global basis and the pressure of compliance is mounting. To demonstrate that we are serious about meeting our recycling targets and the objective we have set ourselves with the PSP, various new projects and initiatives are already under way that will have a significant impact on the amount of PVC products being sent to landfill this coming year," Bezuidenhout said.

Implementation of Act

Looking at the year ahead, SAVA is preparing for challenges that the implementation of the National Environmental Waste Management Amendment Act might present, especially around proposed pricing strategies which are intended to minimise the generation of waste and maximise the recycling and re-use of waste in a sustainable manner and provide funding for these activities, especially in areas where either no sustainable voluntary industry solution exists, or where waste has been declared a priority waste stream, because of toxicity or sheer quantity.

"In the latter case, the Department of Environmental Affairs has the right to prescribe funding models to the industry, which may lead to more expensive and onerous models than those that the vinyls industry may be able to introduce itself. The industry therefore needs to identify a suitable waste management programme, with one of the aims being the increase of recycling activities," Bezuidenhout explained.

"SAVA is going from strength to strength and we are starting to pick the fruits of our labour as we can see from the results of our third Product Stewardship Survey which have shown a 100% compliance by member companies and from increased market acceptance of our material. Building
the reputation of PVC as a material of choice is an ongoing task and we look forward to rising to the challenge with the help and support of our members in this coming year," Bezuidenhout concluded.