Deceuninck provides a fine example of product circularity by recycling PVC windows and doors.
Deceuninck, headquartered in West-Flemish Gits, has been producing PVC window and door profiles for over 75 years. However, PVC does not have the best reputation in 2020: everyone wants as little 'plastic' as possible in his life. Yet we are confronted with it every day: at home, at work, at school, which is understandable because plastic, in all its variants, is a rewarding material. This also applies for most of the Deceuninck products.
A PVC window that is installed today is assumed to have an economic life of at least 50 years without serious aging phenomena and with a minimum of maintenance. In terms of insulation, PVC also scores higher than the alternative aluminium window: thanks to the lower thermal conductivity, a PVC window can achieve up to three times higher thermal insulation efficiency. Finally, an evolution in design has ensured that a beautiful and timeless design is available for every taste.
However, the most important message is that PVC is, in principle, infinitely reusable. This is why the renewed recycling unit of Deceuninck is of crucial importance. In 2018 Deceuninck invested a serious amount to be able to also recycle post-consumer windows next to post-industrial waste. About 45,000 tons of PVC will be recycled on the site every year, which is equivalent to two million old windows being saved from landfill or incineration. The unit will be able to process up to four times more waste than was the case until now.
Knowing that PVC can be recycled up to 10 times without any loss of performance, we can state that a pvc window has a lifespan of at least 500 years today. This investment makes Deceuninck Recycling the largest recycler of hard PVC in the Benelux, a true contributor to the circular economy. Deceuninck is setting-up and constantly looking for new sources to gather post-consumer 'old pvc windows' waste.
