The sustainable window. A Window to a better world…

Sustainability starts at the very beginning of the product life cycle– with the raw materials.  Thanks to the Kömmerling Greenline initiative they have been abstaining from all lead-based stabilisers in uPVC virgin material for almost 20 years.

Lead is a toxic and non-biodegradable heavy metal. Instead, Kömmerling use an environmentally friendly calcium-zinc basis for all Window and Door profiles and as a result of this saves 6500 tonnes of lead annually. That is the equivalent of more than 160 lorry loads each year.

PRODUCTS THAT MAKE BIG CHANGES

Understanding our past, shaping our future.

Durability is sustainable

All Kömmerling systems feature the highest levels of quality and durability. The longer a product is in service, the more valuable resources can be conserved and the less waste is generated.

uPVC is sustainable

uPVC is one of the most environmentally sound materials when handled correctly. Our windows have a projected life of at least 40 years and can be recycled eight times over.

Material loops are sustainable

Our focus is on closing material loops. We make sure that our products are sent for recycling at the end of their life cycle and don’t harm the environment. New high-quality products then contain a high percentage of this recyclate.

Made from 100% recycled material

Kömmerling ReFrame is the first window profile made out of 100 per cent recycled uPVC. The winner of multiple international awards, this product has a refined surface and elements with the same properties as conventional uPVC windows, such as outstanding thermal insulation properties.

Sustainable Production

With eco-friendly raw materials.

The “VinylPlus® Product Label” is the sustainability seal for PVC building products. Products that are characterised by high performance and sustainability are easily recognised by this certificate for end customers, manufacturers and markets. The partner companies from the window construction sector can use the label to advertise profine profile systems and sheets, for example in tenders.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are a standardised way of providing data about the environmental impacts of a product through the product life cycle. Kömmerling windows are EPD verified for 2 and 3-pane insulating glazing, according to DIN ISO 14025 and EN 15804 for uPVC windows with the dimensions 1.23m x 1.48m.

Alongside fresh uPVC, Kömmerling also consistently use recycled materials – without comprising the product quality. As a founding member of the industry-wide recycling initiative Rewindo, Kömmerling guarantee the reutilisation of old uPVC windows in a closed circuit. More information at www.rewindo.de.

Windows made of bio-attributed PVC are used when fossil free products are required or if – due to specifications – recycled materials are not allowed in the windows. Kömmerling windows have certification according to the RSB standard (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) from the raw material to the finished profile.

The future belongs to sustainable building components.

As well as the use of recycled materials, which already has been practiced for many years, there is now another option to minimise CO2 emissions drastically with bio-attributed PVC.

Window profiles based on pine oil instead of crude oil

Bio-attributed PVC is a new development in which fossil raw materials are 100% replaced by a renewable alternative, i.e. second generation feedstock which does not compete with food chains.

Bio-attributed PVC is made from ethylene, a raw material which is based on pine oil not crude oil. This oil is a waste product from paper production and the wood for it comes from a sustainable Finnish forestry.

Dr. Peter Mrosik

Dr. Peter Mrosik, owner of Kömmerling, summarises the strategic aspect of the innovation: “The consistent focus of our Kömmerling brand on sustainability is a holistic task that begins on the product side with the raw materials used. We are therefore proud to be the first in the industry to use bio attributed uPVC profiles in projects together with our partners. Our goal is a sustainable cycle for high-quality synthetic materials, and we want to be a role model here. That is why we will continue to work on sustainable product solutions in the future.”

Lower carbon footprint

The “bio-attributed PVC by Kömmerling” allows a reduction in CO2 of up to 90% compared to conventional PVC – and this corresponds to 2kg of CO2 savings per kg of material used. The material is 100% recyclable.

The PVC produced this way is chemically identical to conventional PVC and its quality and specifications have the same performance.