For us, sustainable healthcare means a lot. PVC’s contribution to sustainable healthcare encompasses the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. The material is made from 57% salt, an abundant resource, and the rest of oil or natural gas. It is easily recyclable and take back schemes for PVC medical devices are in place in several countries: Throughout Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries more than 300 hospitals collect PVC medical devices from non-infectious patients for recycling into useful products.

The social pillar of sustainability is fulfilled as well: As it is a very affordable material, PVC has helped enable access to quality healthcare for the broader population. Several studies show that a switch to alternative materials would be very costly, thereby putting further stress on already increasing healthcare costs.

 

Medical PVC's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

PVC or vinyl has a direct contribution to several of the SDGs and has an enabling effect on others. Below are a few examples.

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PVC medical devices and vinyl-based hospital flooring and other coverings are safe and affordable.
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The European PVC industry has taken big steps to reduce the environmental footprint of PVC and is investing in recycling, also in the health sector.
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PVC is primarily made from salt and has a much lower carbon footprint than alternative materials.
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VinylPlus® Med partners with hospitals to help them sort their medical PVC waste.
 

VinylPlus – a united PVC value chain committed to sustainable development

The European PVC industry is committed to sustainable development. This commitment is put into practice by VinylPlus®, the Commitment to sustainable development in Europe.

The new VinylPlus 2030 Commitment has been developed bottom-up through industry workshops and with an open process of stakeholder consultation. Three ‘pathways’ and 12 ‘action areas’ have been identified embracing the PVC value chain’s circularity, its advancement towards carbon neutrality, minimisation of the environmental footprint of the PVC production and products, and its engagement with stakeholders and global coalitions.

The regional scope of the programme is the EU-27 plus UK, Norway and Switzerland.

The founding members of VinylPlus are The European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), European Stabiliser Producers Association (ESPA), European Plastics Converters (EuPC) and European Plasticisers.


 

The progress is monitored by an independent Monitoring Committee and documented by yearly Progress Reports that are independently audited and verified by third parties. The praise for the VinylPlus programme comes from a wide range of stakeholders, e.g. the European Commission which considers VinylPlus a frontrunner for circular economy.

VinylPlus has committed to recycle 900,000 t/year of PVC as part of the EU Circular Plastics Alliance. VinylPlus is registered as a SMART partnership on the UN Partnerships for SDGs platform and listed as a Good Practice on the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. Together with fiver other European plastics organisations, VinylPlus has launched Circularity Platforms aiming to reach 50% plastics waste recycling by 2040.

"VinylPlus can be considered a frontrunner for the circular economy"

Gwenole Cozigou, Director, DG Growth, European Commission

 

Medical device recycling around the globe

Medical grade PVC is a high-class material, which can recycled again and again into useful products. This, together with the fact that many medical devices such as oxygen masks and tubing are used for a few seconds on pre-screened patients, have led to the establishment of several recycling systems around the world. By recycling these high quality products, hospitals can contribute to the circular economy and help achieve sustainability targets.

 
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Belgium

In 2021, VinylPlus launched VinylPlus® Med. Aimed at accelerating sustainability in European healthcare through the recycling of discarded single-use PVC medical devices, the project brings together hospitals, waste managers, recyclers and the PVC industry. The scheme only collects clean and REACH-compliant PVC waste free from DEHP. Belgium is chosen as pilot country. Additional pilot programmes are underway in other European countries.

 
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Australia and New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand more than 200 hospitals now collect medical devices such as IV bags, oxygen masks and tubing for recycling.

 
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The UK

In the UK the RecoMed take back scheme for PVC medical devices has been set up, which is supported by the European PVC industry's sustainable development programme VinylPlus®.

 
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South Africa

In South Africa, PVC IV bags are recycled into 100% recyclable school shoes for disadvantaged children.

 
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Canada

In September 2020 the Vinyl Institute of Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada launched the PVC 123 pilot programme for PVC oxygen delivery devices, PVC oxygen tubing, PVC fluid bags/containers.

 
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Guatemala

About 25 hospitals in Guatamala collect used PVC medical devices for recycling. The PVC is recycled into shoes that are distributed to school children in Guatemala City. The shoes are handmade by indigenous Kekchis women, providing jobs and income to this minority group.

 
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Colombia

In Colombia, PVC used in dialysis clinics and home dialysis patients are collected. Through collaboration with local organisations, the waste is recycled into chairs, water hoses and other applications.

 
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Thailand

In Thailand, PVC dialysis bags are being collected and recycled. It started with one hospital in 2015 and has now expanded to cover several hospitals. Work is ongoing to make the programme national.