Call for PVC resin producers globally to achieve Best Environmental Practice PVC accreditation

PVC, or vinyl, construction product manufacturers supplying the Australian market require Best Environmental Practice accreditation if they are to meet the latest green procurement requirements, advises the Vinyl Council of Australia.

In 2010, the Green Building Council Australia (GBCA) developed its Best Practice Guidelines for PVC manufacturing. Under GBCA’s Green Star building rating tool, product suppliers of common PVC applications need to provide a third-party verification certificate that their products meet these Guidelines.

The Vinyl Council of Australia issues a Best Environmental Practice (BEP) PVC licence mark and provides an online register of PVC product manufacturers that are confirmed as meeting the Guidelines’ required stringent compliance conditions. The organisation is dedicated to enhancing the PVC industry’s opportunities for growth through sustainable development.

A key aspect of the Guidelines is verifying resin used in the product has met specific ‘best practice’ manufacturing standards to reduce environmental, health and safety impacts. Comprehensive documentary evidence is required from the resin suppliers as part of the conformance assessment. It is sometimes difficult for the product manufacturer to obtain this information from upstream suppliers and some resin producers are unwilling to share sensitive manufacturing documentation.

Sophi MacMillan, Vinyl Council of Australia Chief Executive, says that achieving their BEP PVC accreditation would be welcomed by downstream product manufacturers. “If major PVC resin producers around the world secured accreditation themselves, they can then pass this certification to their customers, rather than reams of documentation, greatly facilitating their customers’ product verification process.

“This not only allows product manufacturers to identify sources of compliant resin more readily, but it also significantly speeds up the Best Practice PVC verification process for the product manufacturer.”

The Vinyl Council’s online register covers a wide range of BEP PVC licenced construction products manufactured in a range of countries. Existing categories cover flooring, resilient wall coverings, pipes & fittings, PVC duct systems, conduit/fittings, fencing, cable, permanent formwork, and blinds/textiles.

Currently, Formosa Plastic Corporation, PT Asahimas Chemical and Inovyn are three resin suppliers who maintain BEP verification, and the Vinyl Council encourages other suppliers to join them.

BEP PVC products, independently verified as fully compliant with the scheme, are recognised in Green Star building rating tools, as well as some other public and private procurement policies in Australia.

Accredited PVC manufacturers have undertaken a vigorous, third-party assessment process required to verify they meet the Guidelines for Best Practice manufacturing of PVC. The Vinyl Council then vets the certificates and records the products, suppliers, and certificate validity on an online register.

Sophi adds: “A vinyl product manufacturer recently told us ‘The day when we can simply buy raw material from companies who have a Best Environmental Practice tick of approval is my dream’.

“These accredited resin producers would have the opportunity to market their resins as environmentally-preferable PVC. They may also be recognised by other procurement programs and certification schemes operating in other countries as a demonstration of ‘going beyond regulatory compliance’.”