Life Cycle Management from Global to Local | 2026
Authors: Metzmacher J.; Léonard A.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17987-6_22
Journal: Life Cycle Management from Global to Local
Year: 2026
Publisher: Springer Science+Business Media
Document Type: Book chapter
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
This study evaluates the environmental impacts of a novel physical recycling technology for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), developed within the CIRC-PVC consortium. This technology is an upgraded VinyLoop™ dissolution process (VinyLoop™-D), that enables the removal of legacy additives (DEHP plasticisers and lead and cadmium stabilisers) while recovering high-quality recycled PVC comparable to virgin PVC. A life cycle assessment is conducted to compare the environmental impacts of this recycling method with those of conventional virgin PVC production via suspension polymerisation. Steam and solvent consumptions are identified as the primary contributors to environmental impacts of the recycling process. Considering data uncertainties, no clear environmental advantage or disadvantage of recycling compared with conventional production can be identified. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2026.
Additives; Environmental impact; Environmental technology; Life cycle; Life cycle assessment; Plastic recycling; Solvents; Dissolution process; High quality; Lead and cadmiums; Polyvinyls; Recyclables; Recycling methods; Recycling technology; Stabiliser; Steam consumption; Suspension polymerization; Polyvinyl chlorides