Polyflor SA was honoured for their contribution to increasing the recycling of PVC in South Africa by being awarded the “Innovation in Recycling” award at the Southern African Vinyls Association’s (SAVA) Vinyls SA 2017 conference held in Johannesburg recently.

Polyflor was the first company in South Africa to launch an official recycling programme specifically aimed at the local vinyl flooring industry at the end of last year. To date, the company has managed to divert more than 6 tonnes of vinyl floor off-cuts generated during the installation process from landfill.  This material is sent to recyclers who use it for manufacturing traffic cones, rubber boots and sheeting.

“Innovation involves the deliberate application of information, imagination and initiative in deriving greater or different values from resources, and includes all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products,” said Delanie Bezuidenhout, CEO of SAVA during the awards ceremony.

“The main criteria for this award was that the recipient had to present a recycling initiative that has not been introduced to the South African market before, but will in the long run also contribute greatly to an increase in the recycling of post-consumer PVC waste. For this reason, we felt it fitting to honour Polyflor for their Vinyl Floor recycling initiative, as well as Adcock Ingram Critical Care for their efforts to encourage PVC Recycling in the Healthcare Environment,” Delanie explained.

All of SAVA’s members are signatories to the PSC - a long-term, voluntary and self-administered initiative by the PVC industry that includes the setting of realistic timeframes for the delivery of key undertakings in production, the responsible use of additives and a sustainable recycling programme to ensure a vibrant and sustainable vinyls industry. These commitments bind signatories to deliver on specific outcomes.  The result of the PSC is a networking relationship between government, business and industry.

Commenting on the award, Polyflor SA CEO Tandy Coleman said they were honoured by the industry recognition.

“Polyflor is committed to reducing our impact on the environment as much as possible, and being an accountable producer, supplier and installer of vinyl flooring that adheres to SAVA’s Product Stewardship Commitment (PSC). We see recycling as being a vital part of the role we play in establishing a vibrant yet responsible industry, which makes economic and cultural sense to anyone involved in this industry,” Tandy says.

For more information, visit www.polyflor.co.za