Industry Steps up to Deliver United Campaign

The British Plastics Federation has welcomed initial proposals from the PVCaware.org campaign to promote the sustainability of PVC building products as having 'strong correlation' with its own initiatives.

As fully committed members of the BPF, VEKA and the Epwin Group have launched the PVCaware.org campaign to promote PVC windows, doors and building products as recyclable, energy efficient and above all sustainable.

Jon Skinner, chairman, BPF Windows Group Marketing Committee, said the initiative echoed the BPF's own plans and ambitions to promote PVC products to industry, consumer and social audiences. He confirmed that the organisation was in discussion with the two companies to explore correlation between the campaigns and also opportunities for joint working.

He said: 'Green issues have never been more important and it's critical that we as an industry unite to promote the sustainability of PVC building products across sectors.

'We welcome the PVCaware.org initiative as supporting that process but remain convinced that we can move forward most effectively by speaking with a single voice.

'Our own and the PVCaware.org campaign share similar sentiment and we are currently in discussions to explore opportunities to move forward together to promote our industry to external audiences.'

In a joint statement Jim Rawson, chairman, the Epwin Group, and Dave Jones, managing director, VEKA said: 'In response to our experiences at Ecobuild earlier this year we became convinced of the importance that measures were taken to address the raft of 'eco-disinformation' that exists across market places. As individual companies we have had the flexibility to respond to that experience quickly and to put basic industry resources in place'.

'This is, however, intended as a first step only and to put our respective houses in order. To make the campaign a success requires the support of the BPF and equally important, the industry as a whole.'

Representing the plastics industry, the BPF and the BPF Windows Group actively promotes the PVC industry and its products to government, the construction industry and social and consumer audiences.

Tim Marsden, industrial issues executive - construction, BPF said: 'The BPF is committed to working with all audiences to promote the benefits of the use of PVC products in construction.

'We have a number of ongoing campaigns geared towards promoting PVC as a sustainable, long life and low maintenance material that are already delivering tangible results across sectors.

'There is unquestionable synergy between the PVCaware.org and our own campaigns and as a consequence we expect the opportunities for joint working to continue.'

Jon Skinner, Chairman, BPF Windows Group Marketing Committee