How can Europe combine competitiveness and sustainability in a changing global environment? This was the central question at the 14th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2026, held in Genval, Belgium, on 10-11 June 2026.
Under the theme MAKE.IT.HAPPEN. IN EUROPE, the Forum brought together policymakers, UN representatives, NGOs, academics and industry leaders to discuss how collaboration, innovation and pragmatic policymaking can support a competitive and sustainable future for Europe.
The discussions focused on three key themes: water resilience, affordable housing and sustainability.
For PVC cables, affordable housing was a particularly relevant topic. Across Europe, rising construction costs, ageing building stock and increasing demand are putting pressure on the delivery of safe, energy-efficient and affordable homes. Durable and cost-effective building materials are therefore essential.
PVC cables contribute to modern housing and infrastructure by supporting safe and reliable electrical installations, energy distribution and connectivity. Their durability, flexibility, processability and strong insulation performance make them widely used in buildings, renovation projects and infrastructure that supports Europe’s energy transition.
The Forum also highlighted the broader role of PVC products in affordable housing, including window profiles, flooring, waterproofing membranes, piping systems and cables. Together, these applications contribute through long service life, cost-efficiency, energy performance and recyclability.
Pieter Staelens, Head of Sector for Sustainable Construction at DG GROW, European Commission, underlined that the EU Strategy for Housing Construction aims to unlock the full potential of the construction ecosystem. He pointed to priorities such as simplification, digitalisation, access to raw and secondary materials, innovation, skills and stronger construction value chains.
A key milestone at the Forum was the launch of the revised VinylPlus 2030 Commitment, following a mid-term review conducted in 2025 and early 2026. The revised Commitment maintains a strong focus on circularity, carbon reduction, product sustainability and life-cycle performance, including the objective of using at least one million tonnes of recycled PVC in new products by 2030.
Charlotte Röber, Managing Director of VinylPlus, noted that PVC recycling volumes increased by 5.7% despite difficult market conditions, underlining the resilience of Europe’s established collection and recycling value chains. The validated recycling figures are available in the VinylPlus Progress Report 2026, which was published at the event.
For the PVC cable value chain, the revised Commitment reinforces the importance of continued innovation in safe, durable and circular cable solutions. It also supports ongoing work to improve sustainability performance while maintaining the technical properties that make PVC cables suitable for demanding building, energy and infrastructure applications.
Concluding the Forum, Carsten Heuer, Vice-Chairman of VinylPlus, emphasised that the revised 2030 Commitment strengthens VinylPlus’ role as a trusted partner for society and supports a more competitive, resilient and sustainable European industry.
The message from VSF2026 was clear: competitiveness and sustainability can reinforce each other. Through cooperation between industry, policymakers, academia and civil society, Europe can create the conditions for both to thrive.
Pieter Staelens, European Commission.
Christophe Yvetot, UNIDO.
Professor Gert Peersman, Ghent University.
Carsten Heuer, Vice-Chairman of VinylPlus, and Charlotte Röber, Managing Director of VinylPlus.
