Thanks to advances in recycling and product innovation, PVC-U is now widely recognised as a sustainable option for the construction industry. Old PVC-U window frames can be recycled and repurposed up to 10 times without the quality or performance deteriorating. According to the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the average lifespan of PVC-U windows is 35 years, which means PVC-U can offer up to 350 years of high performance, with minimal impact on the environment.
PVC-U is sometimes erroneously perceived to be 'unsustainable' because it is not organic like timber. But being organic is only one element of sustainability, and a less critical one in the exterior building products market, which by definition needs products to be highly durable, low maintenance and thermally efficient. PVC-U is an inherently insulating material, whereas timber is porous and aluminium is a conductor (prone to thermal bridging issues, a major cause of condensation) On a like-for like basis PVC-U is the most thermally efficient material. PVC-U is also fully recyclable and can be recycled up to ten times with no material degradation. This gives a piece of PVC-U a minimum life of 350 years (source: BRE) Timber is not recyclable and is most commonly disposed of by burning, which can be carcinogenic. Clearly PVC-U is a sustainable material, and offers better value for money than timber or aluminium to boot.
Eurocell Post Consumer Recycling (328.79 KB PDF)
Cavalok Recycling (421.7 KB PDF)
