Active membership of IVK pursuing the interests for the raw material PVC and its substitutes

By being member of the IVK, we contribute to SDG 12, ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns and especially promoting recycling. We’re also acting upon the goals set in 8, 9, 12, 13, 16 and 17 of the UN SDGs.

Sioen is an active member of the IVK

Sioen is an active member of IVK Europe, an organisation that represents our industry's interests. They work on PR, boost sustainable PVC, form a communications platform and coordinate collaboration with international associations. Through membership of IVK, members also have Circular Plastics Alliance Membership, which helps us realising SDG targets that include recycling, efficient use of natural resources, reducing waste, etc.

What is IVK

IVK Europe is the abbreviation of the German “Industrieverband Kunstoffbahnen” or in English: the Plastics film and sheet association. IVK Europe represents the joint interests of companies producing sheets made of plastic and caoutchouc for a multitude of applications. The focus on the organization's work is on pursuing the interests for the material PVC and its substitutes.

IVK Europe’s 21 company members create an annual turnover of close to 4.8 billion euro and more than 12,000 jobs. IVK Europe supports actively the work of the Circular Plastics Alliance and works closely together with VinylPlus®, the Voluntary Commitment for sustainable PVC industry.

IVK tasks

The IVK has 5 key tasks:

  1. Economic-political representation of the industry's interests on the European and national level
  2. Image cultivation and public relations work concerning products made from PVC: Facts instead of prejudices
  3. Boost sustainable PVC through promoting recycling & circularity a.o.
  4. Platform for communication throughout the industry and exchange of experiences
  5. Collaboration: coordination and cooperation with international umbrella associations and projects

Sustainability

Through membership of IVK, members also have Circular Plastics Alliance Membership. The Circular Plastics Alliance aims to boost the EU market for recycled plastics among others. Members engage to promote mechanical as well as chemical recycling on its markets.

The members of IVK Europe also engage to live up to the voluntary self-commitment VinylPlus, the 10-year programme of the European PVC industry on the sustainable development.

Recycling

In the framework of the Voluntary Commitment of VinylPlus and the PVC industry, IVK Europe has been recycling increasing amounts of end-of-life coated fabrics as well as pre-consumer materials from foils and sheets since the year 2000.

In order to meet the commitments with a.o. CPA, new impulses shall be set by the IVK Europe project for mechanical recycling to separate coatings on the basis of polyester fibers and PVC.

A list of recycling partners can be found on the website of IVK. IVK launched a campaign in Germany to stimulate recycling.

Circularity

By signing the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) in Brussels IVK Europe confirms its strategic objective to re-use more recycled plastics material in new products in the upcoming years and sends out a strong signal towards Circular Economy.

SDGs

By being an active member of IVK, Sioen contributes to realising the targets set in SDG 12, ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Target 12.2 states that we should achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 12.5 specifically refers to recycling. The target is by 2030, to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. We also contribute to realising SDG 9, Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
And SDG 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. And finally, SDG 17 partnering up for the goal.