PVC4cables: the new platform of the European PVC cables value chain

PVC4cables intends to act as a driver for environmentally responsible innovations in the PVC cables sector and as a focal point for dialogue and communications with all stakeholders: compounds and cable producers, regulators, specifiers, installers, electricians, media and the general public. Objective of the initiative is to proactively engage in the promotion of PVC cables, highlighting their contribution to sustainable development, as well as their technical and functional benefits for final users and consumers.

Accounting for 46% of the cables market in Europe, PVC is the most used polymer for electric and telecommunication cables, thanks to its advantages in terms of best cost/performance ratio, high sustainability and recyclability. Wires and cables represent today the largest application sector for flexible PVC in Europe, absorbing around 7% of the PVC resins manufactured. Main applications include: classic electric cables for power transmission at low and medium voltage for homes and offices; telephone cables; cables for TV/computer/hi-fi; cables for automotive; battery cables and robotics; data transmission cables, LAN and IT.

“PVC cables are one of the key application markets in Europe and one of the main sources of recycled PVC," said Zdenek Hruska, ECVM Public Affairs Senior Manager and PVC4cables Project Manager. "With this initiative we aim to provide a valuable point of reference for the entire PVC cables value chain and its stakeholders. We are confident that PVC4cables will enhance cooperation among PVC resins, additives, compounds and cables producers to promote the technical and functional benefits of PVC cables, and will stimulate research and innovation to further improve products’ quality and sustainability.

“The PVC cables value chain is engaged in the research and development of new formulations to ensure maximum safety and protection of the environment and the health of users and consumers. Thanks to the European PVC industry’s sustainability programmes, the PVC cables value chain is well positioned to steadily moving towards a true model of circular economy," added Carlo Ciotti, President of the Italian PVC Forum and PVC4cables Spokesperson.

Over the past decades, the PVC value chain has been working hard, not only to improve quality and performance of final products, but also their sustainability. The Voluntary Commitments of the European PVC industry, VinylPlus and its predecessor Vinyl 2010, for example, contributed to the development of a new generation of PVC formulations, free of substances of high concern; and to the development of collection and recycling schemes. In 2016, in excess of 127,000 tonnes of PVC were recycled from cables within the VinylPlus framework. Furthermore, new recycling technologies, such as VinyLoop®, have been developed to obtain recycled material suitable for high-performance applications.

The first PVC4cables Conference ‘Sustainability, innovation, market: the new horizons of the PVC cables industry’ will take place in Lyon, France, on 26 October 2017, to present and debate the state of the art on PVC cables (technical and environmental performance, regulatory framework, recycling technologies) and their beneficial properties.

For more information:
Zdenek Hruska – Tel. +32 2 6767441 – zdenek.hruska@plasticseurope.org
Carlo Ciotti – Tel. +39 335 7193670 – carlociotti@pvcforum.it