The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) is proud to announce its plans to launch of an industry-wide vinyl floor recycling and recovery programme. This groundbreaking initiative, modelled after the successful Australian ResiLoop programme, aims to revolutionise the way vinyl flooring waste is managed, promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility across the industry.

Waste management

According to Monique Hinds, CEO of SAVA, the decision to encourage the role-players in the local LVT industry to collaborate comes in response to various enquiries the association received from suppliers and installers who need to demonstrate to their customers that the waste generated during installation, is effectively and efficiently managed.

“Although individual companies have tried in the past to implement their own recycling and recovery projects, it is clear that such a project cannot be done in isolation. It needs the buy-in and support of all the role-players if it is to succeed,” Monique said.

As the industry body representing the vinyls sector, SAVA is uniquely positioned to drive this industry-wide initiative. By bringing together recyclers, suppliers, and installers, SAVA aims to create a unified approach to vinyl floor recycling that will benefit the entire industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Trusted expertise

“We are fortunate to have the support and advice of Sophi MacMillan, CEO of ResiLoop on hand to guide us in this process. Australia has already done ample research and development over the last year prior to launching their own vinyl floor recycling programme, which they are eager to share with us. Both countries face the same challenges with regards to local production and imports, geographical distances and waste management. Australia’s learnings provide us with valuable insight and also means that we do not have to re-invent the proverbial wheel,” Monique adds.

First steps

SAVA has already taken significant steps to ensure the success of this initiative. A preliminary meeting was held with leading Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring companies during which Monique and Sophi presented the proposed mechanics of the scheme. The meeting also afforded role-players the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and indicate their levels of interest and commitment. During the same meeting, recyclers were invited to provide their feedback on tests conducted with samples of collected off-cuts and possible end-markets for the recyclate.

“Although there will undoubtedly be challenges and obstacles, the feedback we received from the attendees that such a project is much needed and that the industry needs to work together to find solutions and make it succeed,” she says.

Proposed Plan

The plan will depend on flooring companies becoming members of SAVA and paying a small levy to the association. These funds will be used to support the collection of the off-cuts and to establish the necessary collection and recycling infrastructure. In turn, flooring companies will received detailed reporting of the amount of waste that was collected and recycled, savings in CO2 emissions, jobs that were created etc.  

SAVA aims implement the plan in three phases, starting with the collection and recycling of vinyl floor off-cuts generated during installation in the country’s biggest metro’s. This initial phase will pave the way for the eventual collection and recycling of rip-ups in subsequent stages, ensuring a comprehensive approach to vinyl flooring waste management. A logistics partner has already been secured to manage the transportation of materials, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.

Circular economy principles

In recent decades, the South African resilient floorcovering market has seen remarkable growth, particularly with the rise of innovative products like Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Hybrid or rigid core options. However, this progress brings with it a critical need for the industry to adopt sustainable practices and embrace circular economy principles to maintain its social license to operate.

“SAVA is eager to lead the way with the launch of this vinyl floor recycling and recovery programme and calls on all stakeholders to join in demonstrating a commitment not only to delivering high-quality products, but also to prioritising sustainability and advancing a circular economy. As an industry, we must consciously shift away from the linear "take, make, waste" model and move towards a circular system where waste is minimised, resources are kept in use, and collaboration across the supply chain reduces environmental impact and maximizes value,” Monique concludes.