The Vinyl Sustainability Council created +Vantage Vinyl® as a voluntary initiative to advance the U.S. vinyl industry’s contribution to sustainable development. It aims to drive continuous improvement across all three sectors of sustainability – environmental, social, and economic performance – through the combined efforts of companies across the entirety of the U.S. vinyl value chain.
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE
As the world’s first and only sustainability program to address an industry’s entire supply chain, participation is open to any company in the vinyl value chain that operates in the U.S. These include:
- Resin suppliers
- Raw material/additive suppliers
- Material compounders
- Converter/formulators
- End-product manufacturers
- Recyclers
- Distributors
HOW COMPANIES BECOME +VANTAGE VINYL VERIFIED
The +Vantage Vinyl initiative is framed around five pillars aligned with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. Within each pillar are a series of guiding principles that set the direction and parameters for what a company will achieve over time on its journey of continuous improvement. The Guiding Principles support improved industry performance across three material Impact Categories: resource efficiency, emissions, and health and safety, which align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. An independent third-party verification process provides assurance of achievement.
USE OF THE +VANTAGE VINYL-VERIFIED MARK
Verified companies are awarded the right to use the +Vantage Vinyl-verified mark as evidence of their commitment to advancing sustainability in the vinyl industry.
To be a +Vantage Vinyl-verified company, Vinyl Sustainability Council members must respond to all mandatory questions and receive 50% compliance verification to the Guiding Principles. Companies that go above the 50% threshold can qualify for silver or gold verification designations.
+Vantage Vinyl Gold
A company has achieved 100% compliance to all applicable Guiding Principles and has implemented at least two Advanced Practices and one Innovative Practice Achievement.
+Vantage Vinyl Silver
A company has achieved more than 80% compliance to all applicable Guiding Principles and has implemented at least one Advanced Practice Achievement.
The Advanced and Innovative Practices highlight the industry’s quest for continuous improvement. They provide a roadmap with the Guiding Principles that show how the industry is stepping forward and driving sustainability objectives at the company level. The +Vantage Vinyl Gold and +Vantage Vinyl Silver designations celebrate and recognize companies that are sustainability leaders in the vinyl industry.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING +VANTAGE VINYL VERIFIED?
Take the first step toward earning +Vantage Vinyl verification by learning more here.
ARCHITECTS & SPECIFIERS:
SUPPORT +VANTAGE VINYL-VERIFIED BRANDS
Now you can do your part to help make a better tomorrow by choosing +Vantage Vinyl-verified building product manufacturers.
