Putting the case for uPVC

When it comes to making windows what is better for the environment: uPVC or wood? In recent years the pro-timber lobby have campaigned aggressively and promoted wood as a “natural” building material.

But natural isn’t the same thing as eco-friendly. Indeed illegal deforestation by unscrupulous timber companies is a major environmental problem.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation about uPVC, and the public perception of it is becoming increasingly negative, due in part to a series of misleading and inaccurate campaigns backed by the pro-timber lobby and environmental groups. Yes of course we love timber, who couldn't? But we also feel it's important to know the facts about uPVC, particularly with relevance to environmental impact and energy efficiency issues.

Homeowners are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, on all the major green issues from energy efficiency and recycling, to sustainability and whole-life costs, uPVC has a positive story to tell:

Material

uPVC consists of 57% chlorine (produced from ordinary salt and used to purify water) and 43% ethylene. Ethylene is the most widely produced organic compound in the world. Most ethylene is produced (like petrol) by refining oil. However, ethylene can also be produced from renewable vegetable oil crops so it isn’t dependent on diminishing oil reserves and can be manufactured in a sustainable way with a minimal carbon footprint.

FACT: uPVC is completely inert and 100% safe, that's why it's used in so many medical products such as blood bags.

FACT: uPVC is exceptionally durable; windows made from uPVC typically have a life-expectancy of more than 35 years.

Thermal Efficiency

More than 120 uPVC manufacturers now offer energy efficient windows with a BFRC rating of "C" or above. Fewer than 15 timber manufacturers have achieved this standard. Installing energy rated windows not only saves money on heating bills, it also significantly reduces carbon emissions. Fitting "C" rated windows in a typical property will reduce its carbon footprint by more than 850kg of CO² per year.

FACT: uPVC is far more thermally efficient than alternative materials and the uPVC industry is at the forefront of the development of energy efficient windows.

Environmental Impact

Some environmental groups have expressed concern about how uPVC is made. In particular they are worried about the release of chemical compounds known as dioxins into the atmosphere. They are right to be worried (in significant quantities dioxins can be dangerous) but wrong to be worried about uPVC. Manufacturing uPVC produces only very small quantities of dioxins. Moreover most of the dioxins produced by uPVC plants are captured, they are not released into the atmosphere.

According to the World Health Organisation the biggest producers of dioxins (excluding natural events such as volcanoes and forest fires) are solid waste incinerators. It also identifies a number of other industrial processes (including smelting, paper bleaching and the manufacture of pesticides) which are to blame. However, it makes no mention of uPVC production at all.

FACT: A typical European uPVC production plant would have to operate for 30,000 years to produce the same amount of dioxins released into the atmosphere during bonfire night!

FACT: Because uPVC lasts longer and requires less maintenance than alternative materials, it helps conserve raw materials and reduces the ongoing environmental damage caused by chemicals, solvents and paints required to protect less durable alternatives.

Alternative building materials simply cannot compete with PVC-U when it comes to durability. Without regular re-painting and on-going maintenance, the projected lifespan of wooden windows is dramatically reduced. The environmental impact of all the solvents, chemicals and paints required to preserve timber products in order to stop them rotting away is all too easily overlooked by those who believe wood is a more environmentally-friendly choice.

Recycling

When thinking about recycling you need to look at two different types of uPVC waste:
First, there is manufacturing waste. Here we’re talking about the material which ends up as waste when making uPVC products such as windows and doors – for example off-cuts of profiles and damaged frames. Virtually all of this waste material is recycled and used to make new uPVC products. On this front uPVC’s recycling record is second to none.

Second, there is post-consumer waste – in other words uPVC products which have reached the end of their useful life. The amount of post-consumer uPVC waste that is recycled is relatively low. But there is a good reason for this – when it comes to uPVC building products the vast majority are still in use! uPVC windows and doors (not to mention other uPVC products such as gutters, drains and soffits) are exceptionally durable. They don’t need replacing so they don’t need recycling.

FACT: uPVC compounds are 100% recyclable. Last year 149,463 tonnes of post consumer uPVC were recycled through the European Vinyl 2010 initiative, an increase of 80% on the previous year.

Costs

Independent studies have consistently shown that the "whole-life" costs of windows made from uPVC are significantly lower than for windows made from alternative material. Recent German research, for instance, shows uPVC deliver typical savings of 20% over 25 years, compared to hardwood and 50% compared to aluminium.

Reproduced with thanks to "Fighting back with facts"

Back to the top

x
Copyright © 2002-2010. Harp Windows (Watford) Limited. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be published, copied, broadcast, or otherwise reproduced or distributed without prior written permission from Harp Windows (Watford) Ltd.
Thanks to Reflex, Sheerframe, Easifold3000, Rehau, Visage, Homesafe, Beaufort, Hurst Plastics and Ultraframe for their help and co-operation in the development of this site.