Going 'greener' pays, claims Recovinyl

Cladding and window cills made from 100% recycled PVC-U are examples of how the material can be sustainably used in new building products applications without any loss of performance.

New building products made from recycled PVC-U help give manufacturers an added competitive edge, particularly from the specification sector where 'green' procurement is an issue, claims Recovinyl, the PVC-U industry's recycling initiative.

Cladding and window cills made from 100% recycled PVC-U are examples of how the material can be sustainably used in new building products applications without any loss of performance, says Roger Morton, of Axion Recycling, Recovinyl's UK agents.

Roger comments: 'Given the UK construction industry's commitment to improve sustainability across the whole sector, sourcing 100% recycled products that can truly demonstrate 'closed-loop recycling' can make a significant contribution to providing environmentally-friendly solutions'.

Belface is an external cladding profile manufactured from Cyclefoam, a 100% recycled PVC product, by PVC-U window systems company Deceuninck.

The main profile consists almost entirely of recyclate, with just a 0.5 mm top layer of new material to give an ecological product a stylish new look.

Hazel Wilson, Deceuninck's Building Products Division Manager, explains: 'The material composition and design of the Belface range has been developed to ensure a high performing product that retains its shape and structural integrity when exposed to the rigours that external cladding must endure.

'It has been very well received by the specification market and is very popular with architects who regard it as a long-life product that has been thoroughly tested and is very recyclable.

Novasil, our internal window cill range, is also made with recycled content in line with our long-standing environmental policy to recycle PVC-U waste'.

Roger concludes: 'As well as diverting material from landfill, recycling preserves natural resources with associated savings in energy and provides a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared to using virgin polymer.

We welcome the increasing use of PVC recyclate in products, such as cladding, cabling and piping that demonstrates the material's sustainability and ability to be recycled many times'.

Recovinyl is funded by the PVC industry body Vinyl 2010 formed to demonstrate commitment to sustainable development.

It is backed by the British Plastics Federation and supported by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

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