PolyCert Europe established to harmonize existing certification schemes for converters of polymeric materials
Centexbel-VKC, the Belgian competence centre of plastics and textile, and the Belgian Quality Association (BQA) established a consortium PolyCert Europe in partnership with the industry associations ECRA, EuPC and ESWA. The objective of the consortium is to set up a EU-level third party quality compliance scheme for converters of polymeric materials and to harmonize the methodology for calculation of recycled content used by existing certification schemes in Europe. Such harmonization is much needed to ensure compliance with the relevant standards and regulations and to stimulate circular economy.
PolyCert Europe compliance scheme will help companies to verify the compliance with quality standards and to ensure their products live up to customer specifications regardless of whether they use virgin polymers or recycled polymers. At the same time, the objective is to provide converters with a quality certification and verification of recycled content in converted products.
PolyCert Europe has been established to form an umbrella compliance scheme setting an international standard. It is complementary to and aims at harmonizing the existing certification schemes (e.g. Plastica Seconda Vita, RAL, AENOR, etc.).
The PolyCert Europe compliance scheme is based on the principles of third-party auditing. Such auditing work must by definition be done by an auditing system based on a network of accreditation certification bodies and independent auditors to ensure impartiality and credibility. The European network of accredited certification bodies will ensure a harmonized implementation of the PolyCert Europe scheme across Europe.
The consortium of partners is open to any interested stakeholders being it national or sector plastic converters associations. If your organization is interested in joining PolyCert Europe, please contact us on info@polycerteurope.eu.
Centexbel-VKC: Centexbel is an institution recognised by the application of the Royal Decree of January 30th, 1947 (a.k.a. "Law De Groote"). Its mission is to promote research and technological development with the intention of enhancing the cost-effectiveness, quality and production capacity of the Belgian textile industry. VKC, a division of Centexbel, is a knowledge centre supporting the plastic converting industry in the largest sense of the word. VKC has the necessary expertise in plastic products, materials, processing and recycling.
Belgian Quality Association: Belgian Quality Association (BQA) is an accredited certification body that focusses only on the certification of management systems in a number of industry sectors and services. BQA lies on the competences of the auditors and their expertise in different sectors. The SME approach is an important element of the business model. The competence and impartiality of the BQA staff, on the one hand, and the strictly confidential treatment of all information and data supplied by the company, on the other, are therefore necessary conditions.
ECRA: European Carpet and Rug Association (ECRA) was established in 2004 and represents more than 40 leading carpet producers from six European countries. Together, our members account for approximately 90% of European textile wall-to-wall carpet production and 73% of EU consumption. As an international membership association, we encourage the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experience between our members and stakeholders. We aim to continuously improve our industry’s environmental and health impacts in order to help conserve natural resources, prevent climate change and protect human health. To achieve this, we conduct industry research and analysis, and develop international and EU standards on product level related to progressive carpet design, as well as health and safety related aspects. We also engage with a broad range of stakeholders, encourage change and lead discussions on sustainability best practice both among national and international organisations and trade associations in our industry.
EuPC: European Plastics Converters (EuPC) is the leading EU-level trade association, based in Brussels, representing European plastics converting companies. Plastics converters use plastics raw materials and recycled polymers to manufacture new products. EuPC totals about 45 national as well as European plastics converting industry associations and represents more than 50,000 companies, producing over 50 million tons of plastic products every year. The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. More than 1.6 million people are working in EU converting companies (mainly SMEs) to create a turnover in excess of € 260 billion per year.
ESWA: European Single-ply Waterproofing Association (ESWA) represents the leading producers of thermoplastic roofing membranes in Europe. Together these manufacturers have developed over 85 % market share in Europe. ESWA's mission is to represent and promote the interests of its industry and be its voice vis-à-vis the European institutions. Its objectives include the promotion of innovative and safer solutions from manufacture to application and to providing optimum economic and ecological benefits to the specifiers of its products.