Opening the public hearing on PVC, European Commissioner Margot Wallström declared: "Defining and implementing a Community strategy on PVC must contribute to the sustainable development of our society. (…). What about PVC in this context of sustainable development? Firstly, the production of PVC and the manufacturing of PVC products reprezent an important economic and industrial sector. PVC is one of the most widely used plastics in the world. Secondly, the social dimension of this sector is important. (…) Let me now stress the last pillar: the protection of the environment. This is the key problem underlined in the Green Paper. (…). The Commission is in favour of a reduction of the use of cadmium and lead in PVC products. This is in line with the so-called principle of substitution: where it is economically and technically feasible, the use of hazardous substances should be substituted by less harzardous ones. (…) PVC waste is likely to increase by 80% by 2020. This is a problem we must address now".