Joining the fight against plastic pollution today, on World Environment Day, means more than simply taking small actions. It represents a full commitment to protecting the environment and a determined effort to build a more sustainable future.
#BeatPlasticPollution
For Molecor, tackling plastic pollution goes beyond words. Since 2020, fully aware of our role within the plastics industry value chain, we have reaffirmed our commitment by joining the voluntary initiative Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), whose main goal is to prevent microplastics from entering the environment. Today, all four of our national facilities are OCS-certified – compared to just 63 certified centres in Spain and 139 across Europe. We were also among the pioneers in Spain to certify these best practices under the OCS programme developed by ANAIP (Spanish Association of Plastic Industry Manufacturers) and AENOR, with support from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. This certification scheme has since evolved into OCS Europe, which is now forming the basis for forthcoming EU regulations on microplastics. These regulations will include, among other requirements, the mandatory reporting of estimated environmental leaks.
Driving a circular future
We also demonstrate a strong environmental commitment to promoting the circular economy, through innovation in the eco-design of new products that incorporate recycled materials and by improving our processes to enhance circularity.
At Molecor, every by-product and production offcut is no longer treated as waste. Once reprocessed, it becomes a new raw material that is reintroduced into the manufacturing of new PVC pipes and fittings. This approach enabled the company to achieve two major milestones in 2024: on one hand, 97.7% of the PVC waste generated during production was reused as secondary raw material, and on the other, 42.4% of the total raw material consumed was reprocessed and recycled PVC. These achievements have significantly reduced the use of virgin PVC and reflect our responsible approach to resource management. They are largely the result of continuous investment in technologies that enable cleaner, more efficient processes.
Our strong commitment to the circular economy is also reflected in the development of innovative, sustainable products, as the company is about to launch a new range of products that have been eco-designed to include recycled materials in their manufacture. With these initiatives, Molecor demonstrates that it is entirely possible to offer high-quality products while significantly reducing reliance on virgin resources and minimising environmental impact.
Discovering Molecor’s full environmental vision
Caring for the planet can be approached from many angles, and raising awareness and taking responsibility for energy use and consumption is one of them. An example of this is Molecor’s path towards decarbonisation and its ambition to be climate neutral by 2040, contributing to the climate action goals of the Paris Agreement. Among other initiatives, this includes increasing the use of renewable energy in its production processes. This greater consumption of clean non-fossil energy saves a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which has been increasing in recent years. In 2024 alone, Molecor avoided the emission of 4,912.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent – representing 24.4% of total emissions linked to electricity consumption for the year. This marks a 19.1% increase in avoided emissions compared with 2022, which serves as the baseline year for the calculation.
Another major milestone in Molecor’s environmental strategy is the full calculation and reporting of the company’s Organisational Carbon Footprint. This latest report includes all emissions under Scopes 1, 2 and 3 for the year 2024. A key new feature is the inclusion of all indirect emissions occurring across the company’s value chain – those not covered under Scope 2 – which stem from organisational activities but originate from upstream or downstream sources not owned or controlled by Molecor. In this regard, special emphasis is being placed on the supply chain, in the purchases made and in the commuting of employees to their workplaces.
In 2025, one of Molecor’s most forward-thinking initiatives has been the development of its Climate Risk Analysis. The aim of this initiative is to identify and mitigate the potential impacts of climate change on our operations and supply chain, placing us at the forefront of the plastics industry by integrating climate risk management into our business strategy, thus demonstrating our responsibility to the environment and commitment to a sustainable future. The analysis was carried out using a dual approach, examining different timeframes and regulatory policy scenarios. It identifies both physical and transition risks, as well as opportunities (IROs), and includes an assessment and quantification of the associated economic impact. This diagnostic tool will enable Molecor to anticipate the challenges of climate change and take proactive measures to ensure the company’s resilience and the continued availability of its products.
