VinylPlus® unveils top speakers and programme for VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2018

Industry TodayVinylPlus has revealed its programme featuring top speakers and inspiring panel discussions to share visions on the potential of the industry to deliver on sustainable prosperity at the sixth VinylPlus Sustainability Forum in Madrid, Spain on May 16th and 17th 2018.VinylPlus has revealed its programme featuring top speakers and inspiring panel discussions to share visions on the potential of the industry to deliver on sustainable prosperity at the sixth VinylPlus Sustainability Forum in Madrid, Spain on May 16th and 17th 2018.Organised by VinylPlus, the Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development by the European PVC industry, the forum’s theme of ‘Meeting Societal Needs’ will explore how the vinyl sector’s products and services can help to meet the diverse challenges presented by future society in areas such as healthcare, housing and related infrastructure.Keynote speeches, presentations and discussions will feature representatives spanning the EU institutions, the UN, academia, politicians, specifiers, designers, architects, recyclers and all sectors of the PVC industry.Key topics for debate include policy frameworks, new forms of partnerships to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the industry can respond to increasing environmental pressures. Among the keynote speakers, Anders Wijkman, Co-president of the global think tank Club of Rome will highlight issues relating to ‘Meeting the challenges of the era of peak global population’, including aligning industry with circular economy principles and recycled materials’ place in a global market.Following him is Nilgün Tas, Chief and Deputy Director of UNIDO’s Industrial Resource Efficiency Division looking at solutions for collaborative policy frameworks and sharing sustainability best practices globally. Fellow panellists will include MEP Martina Dlabajová, European Parliament, and Timoteo De La Fuente Garcia, Policy Officer, DG Grow, EU Commission.Brigitte Dero, VinylPlus General Manager, will update delegates on progress through the Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry and next steps towards future goals for PVC sustainability. ‘Global access to quality water piping’ will be discussed by Frans Alferink, Product Manager Civils at Wavin T&I followed by a panel discussion on the potential of PVC to contribute to sustainable prosperity.Insights into how the sports industry is seeking to address its environmental impacts will be shared by Justin Zeulner, Executive Director of the Green Sports Alliance. Madrid’s impressive Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will host the concluding presentation on PVC’s architectural applications in sports facilities and stadia by Lars Meess-Olsohn.Read the full story.