The end has arrived for the ambitious PVC recycling project VinyLoop, which was launched in 2002 in Ferrara / Italy (see Plasteurope.com of 07.03.2002). According to a statement from the company on 28 June 2018, it has decided to cease operations at the plant following a detailed review. With immediate effect, there will no longer be production of recycled PVC at the site, and the controlled safe closure of the plant has been initiated.

Founded by Solvay, VinyLoop was designed to recycle difficult PVC waste from soft PVC, such as cables and films, using a chemical process. In connection with the EU's REACH legislation in recent years, plasticisers from the phthalate range have been declared hazardous (see Plasteurope.com of 24.08.2017). In soft PVC blends made many years ago, substantial amounts of phthalates were used in production. These additives are not economically feasible to separate with the VinyLoop process.

The consequence for the company that is majority owned by Ineos subsidiary Inovyn (London / UK; www.inovyn.com) is the current closure. Seventeen employees are to lose their jobs.