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The VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2023

10–11 May 2023

08:30 - 20:00

Registrations are closed

MAKING THE EU GREEN DEAL HAPPEN

Focused on the theme Making the EU Green Deal Happen, the VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2023 will feature keynote speeches and presentations from leading experts to explore how political and business stakeholders can jointly achieve the EU Green Deal objectives. The VSF2023 will be held as a physical event in Florence on 10 - 11 May 2023. While the VinylPlus General Assembly will be organised on 10 May for VinylPlus partners only, a public conference on 11 May will bring together sustainability experts and speakers from academia, politics, NGOs and industry.

For over 20 years, VinylPlus® has been a frontrunner that has focused on sustainability and the circular economy. As an industry, we have achieved a lot, but we know that there is still more to do.  In June 2021, the entire European PVC value chain officially launched VinylPlus 2030, our next 10-year commitment to sustainable development. With VinylPlus 2030, the European PVC industry has opened the next stage of its journey to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and circular future with even more ambitious goals.

At the VSF2023, we will demonstrate how the European PVC industry works jointly with policymakers and industry partners to find sustainable solutions towards carbon neutrality. We will put the spotlight on circularity in the building and construction sector, developments in green procurement and sustainable product certification, our concrete actions to make the EU Green Deal happen.

During a dedicated Awards Ceremony, #VSF2023 will recognise companies that deliver the highest sustainability performance of PVC products in the building and construction sector through the VinylPlus® Product Label for PVC converters and the VinylPlus® Supplier Certificates for PVC additives producers and compounders.

 

Key topics at #VSF2023: 

  • From ambition to action: Making the EU Green Deal happen
  • Exchanging on regulatory challenges and the EU legislative framework
  • Addressing the upcoming European policy initiatives on plastics and PVC
  • Accelerating circularity in building and construction
  • New European Bauhaus: Sustainable and circular architecture and eco-design for future-proof cities
  • The future of Green Public Procurement in Europe
  • Rewarding and recognising sustainability: VinylPlus® Product Label and VinylPlus® Supplier Certificates
  • VinylPlus General Assembly: key highlights and achievements, current policies and upcoming milestones impacting the PVC business

 

Details

Start: 10 May 2023
08:30
End: 11 May 2023
20:00
VinylPlus®

Hilton Florence Metropole, Via del Cavallaccio, Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Via del Cavallaccio 36
50142 Florence
Italy

Speakers

Paola Altamura

Architect and Researcher in Technology in Architecture
“Sapienza” University of Rome
Paola Altamura
  • Paola Altamura

    Paola Altamura, Researcher in Technology of Architecture at “Sapienza” University of Rome (Italy). She is an Architect and PhD in Environmental Design. Author of the book “Zero waste building” (“Costruire a zero rifiuti”, 2015, FrancoAngeli Editore), she conducts research and design experimentation on the ecological effectiveness of interventions on the built environment, in the area of technological, design and process innovation applied to building materials. Her studies and numerous publications mainly concern the adoption of a life cycle approach in the redesign and regeneration of the built environment, focusing on material resource efficiency, circularity and aiming at decarbonization for climate neutrality. She has collaborated with the Resource Efficiency research team at BRE (UK) and has worked at ENEA (Italy) as a Research Fellow in the Resource Valorization Laboratory of the Sustainability Department (2020-2021). She has been an expert involved in the working group on Green Public Procurement Minimum Environmental Criteria for buildings led by the Italian Ministry of Environment. Since 2020, she has been Co-coordinator of the “Construction & Demolition” Subgroup of the WG 4 “Sustainable and circular value chains” of ICESP (Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform). She has been engaged in the activities of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform too, within the Leadership group Construction and Infrastructure.

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Elena Battellino

Sustainability Responsible in Accreditation
Accredia
Elena Battellino
  • Elena Battellino

    Elena Battellino works in the management of the accreditation process and assessment of CASs referred to the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development schemes.

    Since 2015 she is Accredia's inspector in management systems, certification of people and products/services referred to the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development schemes. Moreover, she is member of several Working Groups in national and international standardization in the areas of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development.

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Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea

Director - Circular Economy
DG Environment, European Commission
Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea
  • Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea

    Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea is Director for Circular Economy in the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment.

    Before joining DG Environment in 2014, he was Director for "Equality" in charge of fight against discrimination in DG Justice between 2011 and 2014.

    He joined the European Commission in  2009 as Director for "Fundamental Rights and EU Citizenship" in DG Justice, Freedom and Security, later DG Justice.

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Stéphane Content

Technical Advocacy Senior Manager
VinylPlus®
  • www.vinylplus.eu
  • Stéphane Content

    Stéphane has joined the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) in December 2021, where he is in charge of the Environmental Footprint Committee.  

    Previously, Stéphane worked in Cefic (2011-2021) and supported the Silicones sector group and the Plasticisers sector group. He was also a manager of Product Stewardship working on communication in the value chain. 

    He also worked for 11 years at Procter & Gamble (2000-2011) in analytical, product design and process development department for liquid detergent development. 

    Stéphane is graduated in Chemistry and got his PhD in the field of photochemistry in 1998 from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He also did a post doctoral stay at UCSD in the field of sensors (1998-2000).  

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Zoran Davidovski

Head of R&D and Sustainability for Pipelife
Wienerberger AG
Zoran Davidovski
  • Zoran Davidovski

    Zoran Davidovski is the Head of R&D and Sustainability for Pipelife which is a part of Wienerberger AG.
    He has a master degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He started as an engineer in Jedinstvo, Zagreb in 1989, were he was two years and then moved on to be a consultant for process improvements in Improd Limited and after started his own consultancy company ZIN d.o.o.
    In 1993, he became the production manager at EATON and later the plant manager of their production facility in Zagreb.
    In 1998, he became the General manager of the Pipelife factory in Croatia and in 2001 moved to Vienna where the Pipelife head office is and worked in several positions in marketing and product management up to his current position. 
    Zoran has been working in the plastic industry for over 20 years and represents Pipelife in Teppfa (The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association) where he is the  chairman of WG Environmental Footprint, and a member of WG Below Ground. He has been the chairman of the Plastic Pipes conference PPXIV, PPXVI, PPXVIII and PPXX.
    Zoran is from Croatia and lives in Austria.

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Sarah Debbiche Krichen

Public Affairs Senior Manager
VinylPlus®
  • www.vinylplus.eu
  • Sarah Debbiche Krichen

    Sarah joined VinylPlus as Public Affairs Senior Manager in January 2023. She is an experienced public affairs and communications professional with ten years of experience. Sarah started her career at the European Small Business Alliance in Brussels and then moved to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, working as Administrative Assistant for the Board and the EU Relation's Team. Eventually, she came back to Brussels and became the Public Affairs Manager for the campaigning association Fire Safety Europe. More recently, Sarah worked at BCW as Director in the Sustainability practice.  She gained over the years a deep and comprehensive expertise on chemicals regulation, construction products regulation, as well as on larger sustainability issues.

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Brigitte Dero

Managing Director
VinylPlus®
  • vinylplus.eu
  • Brigitte Dero

    Brigitte is Managing Director of VinylPlus since 2014 and Managing Director of the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM) since 2011.
    Before moving to the metals industry to work on occupational health, safety, and environment arenas, and subsequently on waste management and recycling, she has worked in a World Health Organisation programme on tropical diseases.
    In 1999 she joined the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) to manage the plastic additives sector groups, PVC stabilisers, plasticisers, flame retardants, antioxidants, and food contact additives and then becameDirector of the Plastic Additives Departmentin 2001.Her main interests are in science and sustainability, women in sports and education. She supports the ‘Women in Green industry chapter’ of UNIDO/UNEP.

    Brigitte holds a PhD in Sciences (Molecular Biology) from the University of Brussels (ULB).

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Simone Doyle

Head of Risk Management Unit
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • echa.europa.eu
  • Simone Doyle

    Simone is leading the Risk Management Unit at ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). She has extensive expertise on risk assessment and risk management of hazardous chemicals. The Risk Management Unit is responsible for preparing restriction proposals and managing the restriction process under REACH. The unit provides scientific, technical and administrative support to the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) on restriction and applications for authorisation. Simone has a 16 years' experience in chemical legislation (REACH and CLP) and has experience in managing multidisciplinary teams at ECHA. She also has a deep understanding of ECHAs activity areas.

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Jane Gardner

Managing Director
European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute (ERFMI)
  • erfmi.com
  • Jane Gardner

    Jane Gardner is the Managing Director of the European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers' Institute (ERFMI), based in Brussels. With over 15 years of experience in sustainability and waste management, she focuses on advocacy, association management, and resource efficiency. 

    In her role at ERFMI, Jane is actively involved in standardization work, participating in CEN/TC 134, the European committee for resilient, textile, and laminate floor coverings, and ISO/TC 219, the international committee for floor coverings, where she serves as the convenor. 

    Jane is committed to working with the sector to advance the development of a circular economy for resilient floor coverings, promoting sustainable and practical solutions for the industry. 

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Andreas Gauer

Project Leader/Research associate
Eastern Swiss University of Applied Sciences
Andreas Gauer
  • Andreas Gauer

    Andreas Gauer owns a Master of Science at the Environmental Sciences ETH Zürich. He is currently research associate at the Institute For Environmental and Process Engineering UMTEC, Ostschweizer Fachhochschule OST; he is leading the research on innovative technical projects in the field of waste management and treatment of residues from waste incineration.

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Fabio Iannone

Researcher
Institute of Management of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Fabio Iannone
  • Fabio Iannone

    Fabio Iannone, Ph.D, is currently doing research within the Sustainability Management Laboratory of the Institute of Management of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa, Italy). In recent years, his research activity focused on the sustainability of the supply chain in the public (Green Public Procurement) or private sector (eg the agri-food sector), and on sustainable business models for renewable energy and on the sustainability of the mining value chain. Fabio Iannone is involved in two wide research projects funded by the European Commission, dealing with the continent, respectively on geothermal energy (Horizon2020 LEAP-RE) and on the sustainability of raw materials for energy and digital transition (Horizon Europe AfricaMaVal).

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Stefan Kolb

Vice President European Governmental Affairs
Fresenius Kabi
Stefan Kolb
  • Stefan Kolb

    Stefan Kolb is currently Vice President European Governmental Affairs for the Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapies (TCT) Division and Vice President Blood Transfusion at Fresenius Kabi. He is Founding member of the Blood Transfusion Association BTA in Brussels, Belgium, working on building cooperation with the European Blood Alliance and defining cross industry positions papers for the blood bag industry.

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Yannick Le Tallec

Certification Director
Efectis France
  • efectis.com
  • Yannick Le Tallec

    Dr Yannick Le Tallec, Efectis Certification Director, has been involved in Fire testing and standardisation of products for over 25 years. She has been involved in certification of construction products for over 15 years with a strong involvement in the work of sector groups (Chair of the SH02 – Fire sector group for 6 years and President of the GNB under the CPR for 4 year) and standardisation (convener of TC127/WG7: Fire safety in buildings – Classification). She is the presentative of the Group of Notified Body in the Group on CPR Acquis process Sub Goup on Environmental Sustainability. In relation to fire safety, she is involved in the team for the Technical secretariat of FIEP (Fire Information Exchange Platform) founded by the European Commission.

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Jason Leadbitter

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
INOVYN
  • www.inovyn.com
  • Jason Leadbitter

    Jason is an experienced Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the chemicals industry. He is professionally skilled in various sustainability models as well as ISO 14001, Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Biomass, and Carbon Management with particular emphasis on circular economy and The Natural Step Framework for Sustainability. Jason is also the chairman of the VinylPlus Controlled-Loop Committee.

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Ettore Nanni

CEO
REAGENS Group
  • www.reagens-group.com
  • Ettore Nanni

    Ettore Nanni holds a PhD in Industrial Chemistry, obtained in 1983 from the University of Bologna, Italy. He is CEO and the main shareholder of the Reagens group, a world-wide producer of additives for PVC and other thermoplastics. Since 2007, Ettore is Chairman of ESPA, the European Stabiliser Producers Association, and is also member of the VinylPlus Board, where he actively contributes to its successful achievements. Since 2014, Ettore is also leading its Additives Task Force. When he’s not travelling following Reagens business, or participating in VinylPlus and ESPA activities, he returns to his home in Bologna, to his wife and three children. Ettore spends as much of his spare time as possible hill walking in the mountains.

     
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Emanuele Riva

Vice General Director and Director of the Certification and Inspection Department
Accredia
Emanuele Riva
  • Emanuele Riva

    Emanuele Riva is ACCREDIA Vice General Director and Director of Accredia’s Certification and Inspection Department. He is also the Chair of IAF, and he was a member of the EA Board of Directors (from 2015 to 2022). He has been with Accredia since 2003, and Department Director since 2013. During these years Riva has represented the National Accreditation Body and Italy by collaborating with many international accreditation and technical standardization bodies, such as IAF, EA (European Accreditation), ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and INAB (The Irish National Accreditation Board). .

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Nigel Sarginson

Advocacy Expert
Nigel Sarginson
  • Nigel Sarginson

    Nigel Sarginson worked for ExxonMobil in Brussels and Houston during 40 years in positions in toxicology, product development, environmental management, product stewardship and regulatory affairs. In the 1990s Nigel was involved in the development of the ISO Environmental Management System standards including ISO 14001. Nigel has been closely associated with the Vinyl industry and the plasticiser business for a large part of his career and was chair of European Plasticisers and a member of the VinylPlus Board. Since July 1, 2022 Nigel is retired from ExxonMobil and is now working as a regulatory affairs consultant.

     

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Karl-Martin Schellerer

Managing Director
Westlake Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
  • www.westlake.com
  • Karl-Martin Schellerer

    Dr. Karl-Martin Schellerer is Vice-President - European & Asian Chlorovinyls at Westlake Corporation since July 31, 2017. His responsibilities also include two Westlake joint ventures, the Chinese PVC resin and PVC film manufacturer Suzhou Huasu Plastics Co. Ltd. (Huasu), as well as the chloroalkali producer Taiwan Chlorine Industries (TCI), in addition to the management of the Vinnolit Group Europe. Karl-Martin Schellerer joined the VinylPlus Steering Board in 2015.

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Frédéric Simon

Journalist & Senior Editor, Environment and Energy
EurActiv
  • www.euractiv.com
  • Frédéric Simon

    Frédéric Simon is the publisher and editor of EurActiv, the leading specialised EU media. He joined EurActiv in 2003 as a reporter to cover some of the EU’s most heated policy debates such as the REACH regulation on chemicals, energy liberalisation, and the emissions trading scheme. In his current position, he oversees the editorial and IT departments of EurActiv in Brussels, Paris and Berlin while continuing to write about EU affairs with a particular focus on economic and environmental issues.

    Frédéric is also Brussels correspondent for France 24, the 24/7 international TV channel. He graduated in journalism from Brussels University (ULB) in 1998 and holds a Master’s degree in EU politics from the Institut d’Etudes Européennes (IEE) in Brussels.

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Vincent Stone

Technical & Environmental Affairs Senior Manager
VinylPlus®
  • www.vinylplus.eu
  • Vincent Stone

    Vincent Stone graduated in Plastics Engineering at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, where he also earned a PhD. He later earned a part-time MBA degree from the Solvay Brussels School Economics & Management. He joined UCB Group (later Cytec Industries) in 1998, where he led several resin and additive development projects for coatings, inks and adhesives applications. He joined in 2010 ArcelorMittal, where he developed and managed a portfolio of pipe coating technology development and testing services for a range of clients along the oil and gas value chain. He then joined in 2015 the Ferro’s Polymer Additives business (later Synegis) where he led the customer and manufacturing support activities, as well as the global product stewardship activities for the benzoate and polyadipate plasticizers portfolios. Since May 2018, he has joined the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM). ECVM delivers a broad range of technical, sustainability, advocacy and communication services to the leading European PVC resin manufacturers. As Technical and Environmental Affairs Senior Manager, he is mainly in charge to develop the activities of the PVC4Pipes platform. He is also actively involved in the Additives and Sustainable Product Label activities of VinylPlus®, the association managing the voluntary sustainability commitment of the PVC value chain.

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Arnaud Valenduc

Business Director
INEOS Inovyn
  • www.inovyn.com
  • Arnaud Valenduc

    Arnaud Valenduc is currently Business Director, Member of the Executive Committee and Member of the Board of Directors at INEOS Inovyn the European leader of the Chloro-Vinyl industry.

    Arnaud Valenduc is a Luxembourg national with 28 years of business experience, including 18 years in the chemical industry among which 10 years in the chlor alkali vinyls chain.  Arnaud joined INEOS Inovyn on 1st February 2022 after working 18 years in Solvay where he held various senior roles, a.o. Head of Transformation and member of Solvay Leadership team from 2017 to 2021, CEO of Solvay Indupa (PVC producer in South America) in 2015 and 2016, Head of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate business in 2013 and 2014 and various business development roles in Asia from 2003 to 2012.  Prior to Solvay, Arnaud was an internet entrepreneur and started his career in the consulting industry.  Arnaud has a degree in Business Engineering from the Free University of Brussels and holds a Master of Business Administration of INSEAD.

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Francesco Virtuani

Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy
  • www.mise.gov.it
  • Francesco Virtuani

    Francesco Virtuani works in the Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Division at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. Graduated in Economics and PhD in Design, he worked in the marketing of consumer goods, in the cultural heritage field and, in 2015, he founded a start-up in the sustainable clothing sector. He is a member of the Circular Economy Observatory and of several working groups dealing with ecological transition.

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Progress report 2022 recap

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