Lead restrictions in recycled PVC – Statement

In February 2020, the EU Parliament rejected a draft regulation (REACH) from the Commission to set the limit for lead compounds at 2% for rigid PVC and 1% for soft PVC. This is intended to promote the recycling of certain product groups such as PVC windows.

In the view of the Qualitätsverband Kunststofferzeugnisse (QKE) and the Gütegemeinschaft (GKFP), mechanical recycling of post-consumer PVC is currently the right approach until new recycling technologies become available. Numerous studies show that legacy additives such as lead and cadmium are fully integrated into the polymer matrix and cannot be released into the environment.

Details of the parliamentary decision and position of the QKE can be found in its statement (PDF) on the association's website (only German).