when chemical giants meet danish environmental ambitions

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When Chemical Giants Meet Danish Environmental Ambitions

Copenhagen Chemicals Summit 2016


“We all have differentroles to play”— Henrik Søren Larsen, Danish EPA


• We represent the European PVC industry in Denmark

• Founded in 1995• Shares office with Danish Plastics Federation• Financed by Danish member companies and

the European PVC industry• We are the headquarters of the PVCMed

Alliance, which represents the PVC medical value chain

• General Manager has a seat in the Communications Working Group of VinylPlus, the European PVC industry’s sustainability programme

Who we arePVC Information Council Denmark


From self-sufficiency to partnerships

In the “good” old days

• Industry self-sufficient

• Desired as little interference with the outside world as possible

• Closeness and monologue

• Completely and solely profit driven


A new path.


Higher environmental standards

Consumer demands

Demands for transparency & communication

Triple bottom line

Industry pushed away from isolationOutside pressure forces industry to change


PVC – a case in pointOn one hand, PVC isomnipresent and fulfills many requirements in modern life

PVC is the most usedplastic in building & construction and healthcare

On the other hand, PVC is controversial material that has been attacked by NGOs for many years

Especially the use of phthalates and heavy metals have been criticised


Examples of partnershipsSustainability summit at Carlsberg

Discussion Performance Music

The PVC industry hosts sustainability summit with NGOs, musicians, politicians, philosophers, academics, artists etc.


Examples of partnershipsDanish EPA visits PVC manufacturer

Discussion Process Products

The PVC industry and environmental authorities visit small size PVC converter in Jutland to

discuss substitution of dangerous chemicals


Examples of partnershipsRoadtrip and competition for design students

Material knowledge Plant visit Exhibition

The PVC industry arranges roadtrip to 3 PVC manufacturers for Danish design studentswith subsequent conference and design competition


Examples of partnershipsThe meaning of plastics

Discussion Carsten Thau Claus Carstensen

PVC Information Council Denmark initiates discussion on the meaningof plastics with prominent Danish intellectuals


Examples of partnershipsUrban agriculture with PVC building waste

Architect Waste Smart reuse

PVC Information Council Denmark initiates project with Danish architects to reuse PVC building waste in urban agriculture


Examples of partnershipsPreservation of art objects in plastics

Art Partners Book

PVC Information Council Denmark partners with National Gallery, National Museum of Denmark, DTU, conservators, artists, designers and others


Examples of partnershipsCollection and recycling of PVC medical waste

Waste Separation Outreach

PVC Information Council Denmark partners with Danish hospital tocollect and test PVC medical waste for recycling project


Today’s case storyReplacement of DEHP in medical devices


The DEHP issue

• 40% of all disposable medical devices are made from PVC

• Most PVC medical devices are soft (tubing, oxygen masks, blood bags, urine bags etc.)

• For PVC to be soft, a plasticiser is needed• For more than 50 years, DEHP has been the

most used plasticiser• DEHP has been under scrutiny by authorities for

many years• Though alternatives have been developed,

DEHP replacement has been slow


A partnership takes form


The PVC industry alwaysclaims that alternatives to DEHP

exist. But why is DEHP replacementso slow then?

It’s very expensive tosubstitute chemicals and the

industry wants to be 100% sure that the EPA doesn’t ban the alternativesonce substitution has taken place

Let’s evaluate thealternatives and see if we

can speed up thereplacement process


A project group is formedThe partners

Henrik G. JensenDanish Health &

Medicines Authority

Shima DobelDanish EPA

Ole Grøndahl HansenPVC Information Council DK &

PVCMed Alliance

Brian Svend NielsenDHI


Chemical giants provides data


“Overall, the report identified 10 potential Alternatives to DEHP in medical devices.

The alternatives have been studied for their inherent environmental and health properties.

Most of the considered alternatives show a better toxicological profile than DEHP, and are thus preferable to DEHP.

However, data are lacking for a few of the alternatives before a toxicological assessment can be carried out”

EPA – press release 27 March 2014

A report is published


International conference arranged

Co-arranged by PVC Information Council DK (PVCMed Alliance), Danish EPA, Danish Health and Medicines Authority

80 participants from industry, NGOs, regions, authorities, members of European Parliament etc.


Results are communicated

Videos LinkedIn

PVC Information Council Denmark initiates project with Danish architects to reuse PVC building waste in urban agriculture

Twitter


Videos Press releases Op-eds in tradejournals

Social Media

Dissemination of the results


How is it going with DEHP replacement?

when chemical giants meet danish environmental ambitions

Healthcare