Pathway to Zero: PVC Roofing Industry’s Effort to Polish Stellar Recycling Record
Less than a half-percent waste is still too much.
Did you know that more than 99% of incoming raw material to the PVC roofing industry turns into usable products? The figure is 99.53% to be precise – leaving just 0.47% (less than a half-percent!) as waste. But the industry wants to do even better, which is how the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association’s (CFFA) Pathway to Zero Production Waste Initiative was born.
The goal of this groundbreaking initiative is to further increase the amount of PVC roofing production scrap that is recycled to reduce materials that end up in landfills and get as close to zero as possible as an industry. All member companies of the CFFA Vinyl Roofing Division (VRD) are voluntarily participating.
CFFA VRD members are individually taking steps to further reduce their amount of production trimmings and scrap as waste to landfills. Each month, members submit statistics on their recycling, repurposing, or reusing of the PVC roofing membrane. Statistics are totaled by a third party and will be published annually.
Recycling, repurposing, and reusing PVC roofing membrane production trimmings and scrap is not new. In 2023 alone, members recycled 19.8 million pounds of pre-consumer materials! What is new is the voluntary commitment by CFFA VRD members to further reduce production waste to the landfill.
Many manufacturers grind production trimmings and scrap to incorporate into new membrane or roofing accessories. The CFFA VRD has identified external recyclers and a network of partners to repurpose or reuse valuable production scrap, avoiding the landfill. Because of its polymer structure, PVC can be recycled and remade into new products over and over again.
In conjunction with Pathway to Zero, which focuses on pre-consumer/production scrap, the CFFA VRD is also stepping up efforts to encourage greater post-consumer recycling of PVC roofs at the end of their useful life. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also relatively inexpensive, especially when factoring in assistance with achieving green building certifications, meeting sustainability goals, and reducing or eliminating landfill fees.
For more information on PVC roofing, visit https://vinylroofs.org/sustainability/pathway-to-zero/.
About Chemical Fabrics and Film Association - Vinyl Roofing Division
The Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association was created to educate architects, specifiers, building owners, and roofing contractors on the attributes of PVC/vinyl as a durable, reflective, heat-weldable material for single-ply roofing systems.
Representing the leading manufacturers of thermoplastic PVC roofing systems in North America, the Division is committed to making available sound, scientifically backed information on the environmental and functional performance of energy-efficient PVC roofing membranes. https://vinylroofs.org/.
CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The August/September 2024 of Contractor Supply magazine is here!
This digital edition is sponsored by BECK AMERICA Inc.
Our cover story, Father and Son visits shares the passing of the torch from one-generation to the next at Universal Fasteners & Supply of Boise.
Also in this issue are our industry updates on: Corded Power Tool; Saws and Blades; Generators; Vacuum Systems and and a special preview of the STAFDA 2024 Convention and Trade Show Planner.
This digital edition is fully searchable and contains live links to every advertiser and new product listing. Click away!
