EUROPEAN COMMISSION REGULATION RESTRICTING LEAD IN PVC ENABLES CONTINUITY OF PVC RECYCLING

VinylPlus®, the European PVC industry’s commitment to sustainable development, welcomes today’s publication of the European Commission Regulation restricting lead in PVC under the EU’s REACH regulation.

The Regulation, which will enter into force in twenty days, supports the industry’s efforts to substitute lead stabilisers in PVC production. In fact, VinylPlus has been working proactively to substitute lead, and since 2015, the EU PVC industry across all EU-27 Member States has ceased using lead-based stabilisers.

With this restriction, the European Commission Regulation builds upon the industry’s efforts to reduce the use of hazardous substances in PVC products and further enhances the circularity of the PVC industry. The Regulation will restrict the import of lead-containing PVC products from third countries where lead is still used as a stabiliser. It will also set a way forward to enable the recycling of PVC products containing legacy lead additives in a manner which safeguards human health and the environment. Additionally, the industry will be given enough time to adjust to the new rules, ensuring the continuity