Opening | Frédéric Simon - Moderator, Senior Editor, Environment and Energy, EurActiv

Keynote Speech: An Italian Perspective on Making the EU Green Deal Happen | Giacomo Vigna, Head of Division III - Circular Economy and Eco-Sustainable Development Policies, General Directorate for Industrial Policy, Innovation and Small and Medium Enterprises, Italian Ministry of Industry

What is the PVC Industry Up To? Trends, Challenges and Achievements | Karl-Martin Schellerer, Managing Director, Westlake Vinnolit GmbH & Co KG and Chairman, VinylPlus®

SESSION 1: MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

What is the PVC industry doing to progress towards sustainability? How can industry support the EU's ambitious goals? What role does PVC play in paving the way to a sustainable future in crucial sectors?

In this session, policymakers and representatives from the industry will discuss:

• Current and upcoming European policy initiatives on plastics and PVC
• ECHA's role  in increasing the sustainability of the chemical sectors, and its work on PVC and its additives
• Best practices and key challenges in the use of PVC in the automotive sector
• PVC in the medical sector: central role and recycling practices

Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea | Director, Circular Economy, DG ENV, EU Commission

Zoran Davidovski | Head of R&D and Sustainability, Pipelife

More speakers to be announced soon!

Coffee Break

SESSION 2: CIRCULARITY IN CONSTRUCTION

Buildings are central in the transition to a circular, climate-neutral future: they are responsible for about 40% of the EU's total energy consumption, and for over a third of its greenhouse gas emissions. 70% of PVC is used in buildings, where it plays a crucial role in transitioning toward circular models.

In this session, regulators, NGOs, architects and industry representatives will outline:

• Key challenges for circularity in construction
• NGO perspectives on the industry's role in circularity
• Innovative design solutions for circularity
• Industry examples of best practices of PVC in construction

Yannick Le Tallec | President, Group of Notified Bodies for the Construction Product Regulation - CPR and Certification Director, Efectis

Jane Gardner | Managing Director, European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers' Institute - ERFMI

More speakers to be announced soon!

Lunch Break & Networking Opportunities

SESSION 3: THE FUTURE OF GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN EUROPE

VinylPlus' circular and sustainable commitments are taking shape through concrete tools and initiatives such as product certifications.

In this session, we will ask academics and accreditation bodies to give their stake on the importance of product certification, and award companies who have taken the leap with the VinylPlus® Product Label and VinylPlus® Supplier Certificates.

• Building Green: benefits and challenges of Product Certification
• The role and recognition of certification in public procurement
• The VinylPlus Sustainability Certifications: the Award Ceremony

Fabio Iannone | Professor, Management Institute Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa, IT)

Emmanuele Riva | Vice-General Director and Director of the Certification and Inspection Department, Accredia

More speakers to be announced soon!

Closing speech| Karl-Martin Schellerer, Managing Director, Westlake Vinnolit GmbH & Co KG and Chairman, VinylPlus®

Wrap-Up and Closure|Frédéric Simon - Moderator, Senior Editor, Environment and Energy, EurActiv

Exhibition and Cocktail

Dinner