Highlights from PVC 2024 – roadmap to a sustainable future

PVC 2024 Edinburgh was held for the first time in-person since COVID-19 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre

This year the much-awaited PVC event was held in person for the first time since the pandemic. Held over three days, 16-18 April at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, the event saw a turnout of over 400 attendees across the three days.

After registration, the delegates and guests were hosted at The Caves, Edinburgh for a pre-conference drinks reception on 15 April. With drinks, nibbles, and live music, guests were able to meander along The Caves’ stone interiors, and network before the conference kicked off.

PVC 2024 Day 1 was all about the policy, sustainable future, and global perspectives, as introduced by the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Jason Leadbitter. The day’s plenary sessions moderated by Karin Helmstaedt from Deutsche Welle, brought together a confluence of spokespeople from Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

Over the next two days, attendees heard from speakers and presenters on the following themes:

• Additives - Incorporating Advances in Modifiers, Flame Retardants, Stabilisation, Pigmentation & Weathering
• Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Machinery & Processing Technology
• Markets, Products & Applications – Innovation with PVC
• Net-Zero Carbon
• Plastisols & Flexible PVC
• Polymerisation, Resin Development & Production
• Regulatory & Environmental Matters
• Strategy/Direction & Global Markets
• Circular Economy

On the second day, the conference dinner and reception were held at the National Museum of Scotland. Guests were free to roam the lower floors of the museum where the drinks reception was held, before convening in the main hall for dinner. This was followed by an address from Jason Leadbitter and an awards ceremony that honoured the most engaged and creative delegates on PVC’s social media channels and on the conference app.

The night reached a crescendo when music group Drums & Roses performed hit song covers and Scottish pipes for the dinner guests, encouraging them to participate in dancing and revelry.

The conference culminated on the third day after enriching and inspiring sessions brought on by some of the most innovative researchers and professionals in the industry today. The path to sustainability can be forged collectively in the industry, and PVC 2024 is a significant event that brings together professionals, academics, and policy makers from across the world on one platform.

More information on PVC 2024 and conference proceedings