Call for greater manufacturing circularity within plastics industry
Published: 15 August, 2024
REHAU’s Chief Executive of the UK and Ireland, Martin Hitchin, has supported the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) call for a greater utilisation of the opportunities offered by the plastics industry regarding sustainability, especially on promoting greater circularity within manufacturing.
Hitchin, who has been CEO of REHAU UK&I since 2007, was recently appointed as the new Vice-President of the BPF and is encouraging a fresh look at what the industry can offer on sustainability.
Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, Hitchin said: “It is a real honour to be voted in as Vice President of the BPF, and I’m keen to help support the changes being pioneered by the federation throughout our industry. I’m ready to help promote the agenda of our president, Nigel Flowers, and help show what the plastics industry can do to help meet Net Zero goals.”
The BPF, in its pre-election manifesto, called on parties to acknowledge the significant role that the UK plastics industry can play in enabling the country to achieve Net Zero by 2050. This includes the responsibility that plastics play in the production of renewable technologies such as wind turbines and hydrogen, alongside the potential of polymer within buildings.
Polymers have the potential to become a critical part of achieving climate goals, such as achieving net zero status by 2050. They possess lightweight characteristics, greater flexibility alongside insulation properties that make it a practical material for use in district heating networks. This is something REHAU is already very familiar with through its line of district heating solutions such as RAUVIPEX, a new innovation developed to support wider roll out of heat networks.
Sustainable building and polymers don’t just fall to heat networks, material choice for plumbing is also a developing area with recent developments in bio-based polymers. Earlier this year REHAU launched RAUTIAN flex green, a sustainable plumbing pipe made using renewable raw materials, offering over 90% savings on CO2 during production.
One of the key policies that the BPF is calling for is reforms to help the plastics industry reach its potential in terms of improving circularity. They are encouraging the expansion and improvement of plastic recycling infrastructure, making it easier for companies to recycle plastic such as PVC.
The PVCR plant based in the North West of England enables the company to process over 13,200 tonnes of post-consumer windows and doors per year, recycling them into brand new PVC products across its range.
The company is looking to increase this commitment to circularity going forward and is planning to increase the share of recycled PVC in new frames to 70% by further enhancing the facility’s processing capacity. Currently, about 55% of its frame output currently contain recycled materials. REHAU’s digital service package, Window.ID, also allows the company to track windows through their lifecycle to improve recovery at end-of-life.
“I’m very proud of what we’re able to show through our PVCR plant, and it is exactly what the BPF are looking to make more widespread throughout the industry. Reducing our use of raw materials is just one step in bringing in more sustainable practice to the plastics industry and encourage circularity throughout.
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with our partners, and sharing our knowledge and expertise to help everyone, including policymakers, understand that the plastics industry is bristling with opportunities to take the country forward in so many areas, including sustainability.”
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