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WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WHEN THE END IS NIGH FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS ?
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AUTHORED BY CHRIS COXON , Head of Marketing at Eurocell plc - the leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality , cost efficient and sustainable PVC-U solutions
Manufacturers of PVC-U , wood and aluminium window and door frames have been battling for many years to try and win over both specifiers and homeowners . The ongoing argument over which material is most suitable for each project appears subjective , with the three materials all beneficial in different ways . However , the increased responsibility that consumers are feeling to become more sustainable poses another consideration - which material is the most environmentally friendly ?
Overall , PVC-U has enjoyed a larger share of the replacement window and door market than wood and aluminium . The dominance of PVC-U in the fenestration sector can be attributed to its economy , flexibility , strength , security and all-round appeal , but how does it match up in terms of its environmental impact ?
Homeowners are increasingly taking into account energy efficiency and sustainability when making purchasing decisions so it ’ s important to take a fresh look at how the three competing materials compare in the environmental stakes .
EXPERT ’ S VIEW
There ’ s not much to make a distinction between the main door and window frame materials in terms of environmental performance . No specific material has an obvious advantage in the relevant standard impact categories . Some will argue that aluminium frames contribute to heat loss more than wood or PVC-U frames because of the inherent conductivity of metal , for example , but in general there is little to choose between each of them when it comes to performance , with A and A + ratings largely the norm .
Where the differences really begin to emerge is when you compare the environmental impact of each material at the end of its life …
DIFFERENT ENDINGS FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS
It ’ s very easy to recycle and reuse PVC-U and the replacement window and door industry has an impressive record for recycling old frames and using them to make new ones .
Over 560,000 tonnes of what is referred to as ‘ post-consumer ’ material is recycled across Europe every year , aided by companies like Eurocell , who operate an advanced ‘ close loop ’ system for the recovery , recycling and reuse of PVC-U frames .
PVC-U actually gets stronger when it ’ s recycled . Every time it ’ s recycled , the proportion of additives ( such as impact modifiers ) in the mixture can be adjusted to ensure it keeps its strength . This means PVC-U can be re-processed and used to make new windows and doors , the same products it came from , for high-value ‘ upstream ’ recycling .
Alternatively , the fibres in wood break down immediately when it ’ s recycled , meaning it can only be used to manufacture lower quality products like chipboard and other low-grade timber meaning it ’ s ‘ downstream ’ recycling .
Although it can be converted into biomass fuel and burned to produce green energy , proportionately few wood frames are sent for recycling . In fact , it ’ s estimated that up to 50 per cent of the timber windows removed from refurbishment projects in the UK end up in landfill .
Recycling rates for aluminium are impressive , reaching 90 per cent across Europe for the construction and vehicle industries . It can also be recycled and used to make new window and door frames , again and again . However , in comparison to PVC-U , recycling aluminium consumes a lot more energy and produces more emissions . PVC-U is reprocessed at a modest 160-220 degrees centigrade compared to the 700-750 degrees centigrade or more required to melt down and recycle aluminium .
PVC-U COMES OUT ON TOP When it comes to what happens to the material at end of life , PVC-U comes out on top , with the environmental benefits of using the material instead of wood or aluminium clear . Increasingly , environmentally conscious consumers will factor this into their decision making more than ever before and it ’ s likely that PVC-U will continue to enjoy a larger share of the replacement window and door market as a result .
WWW . EUROCELL . CO . UK
Eurocell plc is the UK ’ s leading manufacturer , distributor and recycler of PVC-U window , door , conservatory and roofline systems , plus an extensive array of ancillary products , offering the widest product range of any single brand on the market . Its products are used for both new build and replacement projects in the domestic and commercial sector .
12 » AUG 2018 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM