Beiträge

Current Trend in Christmas Trees

/in /von

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 29.5 million Christmas trees were sold in Germany in 2016. With 71 percent, the Nordmann fir is one of the most popular tree species. But artificial trees are also increasingly found in living rooms at Christmas. According to a recent Statista survey, 22 percent of around 1,100 interviewees this year use a plastic Christmas tree – and this is often made of PVC.

One reason for the increasing interest in PVC Christmas trees is certainly the fact that the manufacturers of these trees have been paying more attention to details during production over the years, which in turn contribute to the fact that plastic trees are getting closer and closer to the original.

In 2012, the American Christmas Tree Association in the United States has compared the advantages and disadvantages of real and artificial Christmas trees in a scientific life cycle analysis. Both types of Christmas trees have environmental impacts that depend on the duration of use, transport distance to the consumer and the type of waste disposal. The study concludes that when a PVC tree is used for eight years, it is more environmentally friendly than buying eight real Christmas trees. They are more durable, easier to assemble, do not need water and do not lose needles. The branches are also resistant to fading and have flame-retardant properties.

Successful series of events: PVC recyclers meet PVC processors

/in /von

Last week, the third and last regional meeting of the „PVC recyclers meet PVC processors“ series of events this year was held at REHAU in Erlangen. AGPU and VinylPlus have launched the Network Meetings 2012 to promote PVC recycling in Germany.

The meeting in Erlangen was now the tenth event and again achieved good participation from industry. Since the kick-off event in Cologne, AGPU and VinylPlus have brought a total of around 250 experts together. Due to the great interest and the continuing demand from all those involved, it is planned to continue the series of events in Germany in 2019. The successful concept is now also being offered to other national PVC-network associations.

Get the new STARKE SEITEN and BLITZ-INFO Autumn 2017 issues

/in /von

A couple of days ago, around 26,500 copies of the autumn issue of the German magazine STARKE SEITEN are being sent out to readers, mainly to decision-makers from selected target groups and to addressees from the PVC industry and its value chain in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The current issue focuses on PVC health care applications.

AGPU is distributing about 6,300 of these copies together with the BLITZ-INFO, which summarises up-to-date information on the sustainable development of PVC to decision-makers in the fields of politics, administration, industry, trade and commerce together with a personal letter.

If you would like to use STARKE SEITEN for your communication activities or publish your own article in the magazine, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send you the latest media data together with information on the topics planned for next year.

Download here!

Bilcare: First New AGPU Member in 2017

/in /von

In perfect timing with the start of the New Year, the PVC experts in Bonn are looking forward to welcoming Bilcare Research as the first new AGPU member in 2017. The internationally operating company manufactures high-quality rigid films made of PVC at two locations in Germany. According to Bilcare, companies from the pharmaceutical, food and packaging industries are among their about 2500 customers worldwide.

As a new AGPU member, Bilcare Research is another company in the PVC value chain to support the work carried out by AGPU and the working group’s commitment to sustainable PVC.

A Positive Growth Trend for PVC

/in /von

The German plastics magazine „Kunststoff-Magazin“ recently produced „The Global Plastics Market“, a special publication focusing on PVC, in cooperation with the PVC manufacturer Vinnolit. The five-page-long article provides the latest figures on PVC production, the PVC applications of and the worldwide demand for PVC polymers. It reveals that PVC has continued to extend its growth on a global level, despite the fact that the European market is currently only experiencing restrained growth. The publication also claims that the plastic is becoming more and more environmentally friendly and benefiting from global trends, so much so that the global production capacity for PVC increased to 62 million tons in 2016.

The special publication focusing on the global PVC market is available in German and English. AGPU members can download it as a PDF file from the PVC Wiki.

Aktion PVC Recycling will attend 23rd Demolition Conference 2017

/in /von

Europe’s largest specialist demolition event, the 23rd Demolition Conference, will take place in Berlin from 10th to 11th March 2017. More than 800 participants and 100 exhibitors attended this year’s event. In order to keep up with the growing popularity of the conference, the German Demolition Association (DA) as the organizer has decided to change the venue so that it can make the most of more space at future conferences.

As was the case in previous years, this year’s Demolition Conference will be accompanied by a trade exhibition. The joint stand run by Aktion PVC Recycling will yet again attend the exhibition with its experts in order to provide the conference participants with first-hand information on the recycling solutions for PVC flooring, windows, doors, roofing and waterproofing membranes and pipes available in Germany.

The full programme for the 23rd Demolition Conference will be published soon. Participants can already sign up to attend the event on the German Demolition Association website.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

/in /von

AGPU would like to wish you, your employees and your family a happy and relaxing Christmas and an excellent start to a healthy and successful New Year. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank you for your trusting cooperation also on behalf of the AGPU Managing Board.

The AGPU office will be available as usual until 23rd December and will be open daily from 9am to 2pm between the Christmas and New Year holidays.

VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2017: „Towards Circular Economy“

/in /von

Taking the theme of ‘Towards Circular Economy’, the fifth VinylPlus Sustainability Forum will examine the key sustainability challenges for PVC when representatives from the entire industry value chain meet in Berlin, Germany, on May 10th and 11th 2017.

Organised by VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainability programme, the 2017 Forum will focus on sustainability and delivering durable solutions for PVC within the high-profile context of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package. It will also feature sessions with EU authorities on Circular Economy policies, both regionally and Europe-wide.

The 2017 Forum is a ‘not-to-be-missed’ event for VinylPlus members and their stakeholders to share insight on potentially growing opportunities for PVC to contribute to a stronger circular economy where resources are used in a more sustainable way.

Key topics will include the contribution of the vinyl industry to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global vinyl market and industry initiatives.
Featuring case studies, success stories and panel talks, the comprehensive programme will also include discussions on eco-design and innovation concepts, including a look at better lifestyles with smart PVC products.

Brigitte Dero, VinylPlus General Manager, says: “The Circular Economy is currently very high on the European political agenda. Important decisions will be taken in the context of the Circular Economy Package, which will have an impact on the plastics industry as a whole in the future.

„Through the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment, we are moving the European PVC industry towards a Circular Economy and have already demonstrated significant progress and achievements towards our sustainability goals. Once again, our annual event provides a valuable opportunity for participants to collaborate, share best practice and gain positively from collective input.”

VinylPlus is the renewed ten-year Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry. The programme establishes a long-term framework for the sustainable development of the PVC industry by tackling a number of critical challenges in the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland.

The city of Düsseldorf permits funding of PVC windows

/in /von

The city of Düsseldorf has recently agreed on a set of reworked guidelines on the funding of measures for the renovation and modernisation of buildings within the capital city of the federal state, as part of the funding program “Eco-friendly living and working in Düsseldorf.” Under point 5 “construction materials”, specifications for materials are laid down by the Environmental Office of the city. According to these specifications, PVC windows will now also be included in funding programs, as long as the manufacturer can provide evidence that at least 60 percent recycled PVC has been used in the manufacturing process.

The acceptance of PVC into the funding guidelines represents a great success for the industry, even if the hurdle has been set very high with the requirement of 60 percent recycled material. The fact that PVC windows are now for the first time being funded in Düsseldorf is renewed proof that the intensive lobbying of the AGPU and its partners has paid off. This successful step has now been achieved thanks to numerous rounds of discussion with local decision makers. In making this change, the city of Düsseldorf is following a trend started by a number of other cities and local authorities, to amend their guidelines and once again permit the inclusion of PVC.  However, we are not amused about these funding guidelines, as PE, PP and PUR windows are also being funded although they have no market relevance and they contain no recycled materials at all!

Current summer issue of STARKE SEITEN and BLITZ-INFO

/in /von

The summer edition of Starke Seiten has been mailed to 27,000 addresses, mostly executives from different target groups, and to the PVC industry and their value chains in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With part of the print run, AGPU also sends along BLITZ-INFO (which appears three times a year) containing current information about the sustainable development of PVC along with a letter personally addressed to over 6,000 decision-makers in politics, management, industry and trade.

In case you, too, would like to use STARKE SEITEN for your communication needs, we will gladly tell you about the advertising options. For example, we can send along our 2016 media data packet, which includes important dates and key topic listings.