SAVA celebrates over a decade of safer, sustainable PVC manufacturing
THE Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) is celebrating more than a decade of success under its Product Stewardship Commitment (PSC) – a voluntary programme that has transformed local PVC manufacturing to meet the highest global health, safety, and sustainability standards.
Since 2011, every SAVA member has pledged to:
• Eliminate mercury, lead, cadmium, and other harmful additives.
• Control vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) emissions.
• Ensure only safe, sustainable additives are used in PVC products.
Companies must renew their pledge annually and submit proof of compliance to earn the SAVA Green Tick – the industry’s mark of health, safety, and sustainability. “Today we can safely say that none of the PVC products manufactured locally by our members contain lead, cadmium, or other toxic additives often referenced in international campaigns,” says Monique Hinds, CEO of SAVA. “Our industry acted early, phasing out substances of concern well before external regulations.”
A South African Success Story
• South Africa’s PVC pipe manufacturers were among the first in the world to go completely lead-free, achieving this milestone in 2012 and five years ahead of the EU.
• Vinyl products made and sold locally today are lead-free, mercury-free, and recyclable.
• The shift to safer stabilisers was costly, but industry absorbed the expense without passing it on to consumers.
Standing Up for Science-Based Policy
Despite this progress, PVC is still frequently labelled a “problematic plastic” in global forums. SAVA warns that failing to distinguish between safe, locally produced PVC and imports that may still contain harmful additives unfairly penalises South African manufacturers and threatens local jobs.
“Science, not stigma, must guide policy,” Hinds stresses. “PVC plays a vital role in infrastructure, healthcare, and packaging. Banning or restricting it without evidence risks harming South Africa’s economy while ignoring the industry’s proven sustainability record.”
SAVA remains committed to working with government, industry, and civil society to shape a National Action Plan that balances global commitments with local realities.
