PVC has been around for decades — and so have many of the perceptions surrounding it. But how much has the material, and the industry behind it, changed?
In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland we speak with Alexander Kronimus from VinylPlus Deutschland about taking a fresh look at PVC: where it is used, why durability matters, and how the industry is working to make an already long-lasting material more circular.
From window frames and cable insulation to medical applications and, of course, vinyl records, PVC is often an invisible part of the products and infrastructure around us.
We discuss:
Why circularity starts with smart product design — not just recycling
How durability and energy efficiency can make PVC an important material for buildings and infrastructure
How the industry is addressing legacy additives while developing new recycling technologies
How recycled and non-fossil feedstocks, renewable energy and innovation could further reduce PVC’s environmental footprint
Perhaps one of the most interesting takeaways is that sustainability isn’t simply about replacing materials. It’s about looking at their entire life cycle — how they are produced, how long they perform, and what happens when they finally reach the end of their useful life.
Sometimes that means looking at a familiar material with fresh eyes.
Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
