Circular economy, optimal management of raw materials and reuse of already produced materials while reducing carbon dioxide emissions are just a few of the extremely important topics that were discussed during the Conference organized by EPPA - European Trade Association of Suppliers of PVC Window Systems together with the BUDMA, WINDOOR-TECH Fairs and JOBDONE on February 1, 2023 in Poznań.
"PVC window profiles and their value chain as the key to climate protection and business development. EPPA Association for the window industry in Poland and Europe"
EPPA representatives: Charlotte Röber, General Director of EPPA European Association of PVC Window Profile Systems, Marek Karwowski - General Manager of EPPA Poland and Karol Pięta - Project Manager of EPPA Poland presented directions of action to maximize the recycling of the window product throughout the life cycle process, as well as the operational determination of the use of windows removed during the renovation of buildings and the insertion of new energy-saving windows.
EPPA presented the requirements to be met by manufacturers of building materials related to the modification of the regulation on construction products and CE marking, which will require entering in the parameters of the product's performance properties also values related to the amount of energy used to produce the window, the product's impact on reducing CO2 emissions and the % share recycled raw materials used to produce a new window.
Already in the Netherlands or England, in the records of tender offers, e.g. of housing associations replacing windows in their buildings, there is a specific % parameter specifying recycling, i.e. the % content of materials reused in the production of the window offered in the tender.
In addition to the speeches of EPPA representatives, a panel discussion was also held, in which representatives of manufacturers of window profile systems, a window manufacturer, a representative of a company dealing with the processing of construction waste and a representative of a window showroom and a company dealing with disassembly and installation of windows took part.
Participants of the Discussion Panel:
1. Paweł Ciepły - Generał Manager VEKA
2. Marcin Szewczuk - Marketing Manager ALUPLAST
3. Jarosław Kujawa - Production Preparation Manager REHAU
4. Maciej Mańko - Marketing Manager GLASSOLUTIONS
5. Krzysztof Michalak - CSO - Chief Sales Officer OKNOPLAST
6. Andrzej Sobieski - HOMAX - VETREX Authorized Salon
7. Piotr Szeremiota – Commercial Director DEKOS
Participants of the discussion panel, from the perspective of their companies, presented areas that should be taken into account in order to increase the number of dismantled windows that will be transferred to specialized companies dealing with construction waste processing. Examples were given in which evident support of the entire industry is required in standardizing the rules for the transfer of dismantled windows, even on the model of activities that take place in the household appliances industry.
The EPPA Association invites window manufacturers and waste processing companies to contact us in order to support activities and establish cooperation and minimize logistics costs related to the transport of dismantled windows to waste processing points. Already, the number of companies with which EPPA cooperates allows for shortening transport routes, but there are still regions of Poland where this parameter can be improved.
EPPA is a member of VINYL PLUS and the CIRCULAR PLASTICS ALLIANCE (CPA). As part of the Vinyl Plus declaration, goals are set to achieve recycling at the level of 1 million tons of PVC per year from 2030, with the participation of European profile producers at the level of 45%.
