- 3 min reading time
Interview with Sebastian Wendel on the current status and feasibility of PVC recycling (of flooring)
The recycling of PVC, especially in the area of floor coverings, is currently the subject of much discussion. PVC is a widely used plastic, but due to its chemical composition and the additives it contains, such as plasticisers and heavy metals, it is difficult to recycle. Despite decades of efforts, the recycling rate of PVC in Europe remains comparatively low. Much of the PVC waste is still incinerated, which causes ecological problems.
Nevertheless, progress is being made, particularly in the development of new chemical recycling processes that make it possible to remove critical additives and recycle PVC. Projects such as the Circular Flooring Consortium show that such processes are technically feasible, albeit challenging from an ecological and economic point of view. Demand for recycled PVC is increasing, but the collection and processing infrastructure needs to be further expanded to realise its full potential.
In this context, Sebastian Wendel, Head of the Sustainability Department at the CLASSEN Group, discusses the challenges of PVC recycling and presents alternative materials such as CERAMIN, which could solve the problem in the long term.
PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world, but recycling PVC is sometimes difficult. Could you give us an overview of the current state of PVC recycling, especially in the flooring sector?
Sebastian Wendel:
PVC recycling is facing major challenges overall. There are two basic recycling methods: mechanical and chemical recycling. In the mechanical process, the material is sorted, shredded and, if necessary, cleaned before being returned to the production cycle. For complex products such as flooring, which usually consist of different layers that may contain different polymers or even natural materials such as cork, mechanical recycling becomes an almost impossible task. Chemical recycling could theoretically solve these problems by breaking the material down at the molecular level. But here, too, there are significant environmental and economic hurdles.
You mention economic hurdles. Does chemical recycling of PVC even make economic sense?
Sebastian Wendel:
That is precisely the crux of the matter. Chemical recycling requires a high energy input and specialised plants, which are generally only profitable at very high production volumes. Even if it were possible to recycle PVC completely, according to current knowledge, the process would be significantly more expensive than producing new material. This makes it unattractive for companies to use this method. There are pilot projects, such as the creasolv project, which has set itself the goal of Recovering PVC from old flooring and at least removing critical phthalates from the material, but so far it is only a research project without industrial implementationAs far as I know, chemical recycling of PVC has not yet been implemented on a large scale.
If we look at the ecological aspect, what about the impact of PVC on the environment and what happens to the problematic substances such as plasticisers and heavy metals?
Sebastian Wendel:
This is a major problem. PVC from earlier generations often contains so-called ‘legacy additives’, i.e. old substances, some of which are now banned, such as heavy metal stabilisers or low-molecular plasticisers, which are now considered harmful to health and are no longer permitted. When the PVC is mechanically recycled, a sorting residue always
There are always discussions about alternatives to PVC, especially in the area of floor coverings. What do you think of these alternatives?
Sebastian Wendel:
Alternatives to PVC are absolutely essential, especially in the area of floor coverings, where PVC is very widespread. With CERAMIN, we at the CLASSEN Group have developed an innovative material that can replace PVC in many areas. Unlike PVC, however, CERAMIN does not rely on plasticisers and is made entirely from polyolefins. This makes the material fully recyclable and offers both economic and ecological advantages. While the PVC market is still trying to implement an economical recycling process, CERAMIN offers a genuine alternative that is not only harmless to health but also more cost-effective in the long term when all aspects are taken into account.
Why do you think CERAMIN is a better alternative to PVC, especially in terms of recycling and sustainability?
Sebastian Wendel:
CERAMIN has several decisive advantages. Firstly, it is ‘designed for recycling’, which means that not only the life cycle of the coverings, but also the recyclability of its components has been taken into account from the outset in the product development. In addition, recycling does not require the complex and energy-intensive processes that we see in the possible recycling of PVC. Secondly, since its market launch, it has not contained any hazardous additives such as plasticisers or heavy metals, which can cause problems during disposal or recycling. Thirdly, CERAMIN products are durable and offer excellent material quality, making them a sustainable choice for both manufacturers and consumers. While PVC recycling repeatedly reaches its limits, CERAMIN offers a simple, clean and future-proof solution.
Sebastian Wendel has been instrumental in shaping the CLASSEN Group's sustainable orientation for many years. He has been head of the CLASSEN Group's sustainability department since 2023. He has been working in the flooring industry for almost 30 years, with almost 20 years at the CLASSEN Group. He is also a board member of the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association (MMFA).
