GEALAN and the environment

• Our commitment
• Our material: PVC
• PVC material cycle
• The GEALAN Eco-Agreement
• EMAS environmental audit
• The GEALAN environmental declaration 2002 (PDF)
• DIN EN ISO 14001 environmental management system
• Sustainablility benchmarking
• Oekoradar.de
• DIN EN ISO 14031 environmental performance evaluation
• ISO TR 14032 technical report
• Climate protection tips for the home

Company

• The various locations of the GEALAN Group
• Success factors of the GEALAN Group
• GEALAN employees
• Initiatives
• Responsibility / environment
• Purchasing department

GEALAN international:

Environment

Efficient and recyclable

Our Material: PVC

The main ingredient that we use to make our doors and windows is uPVC, made up of 57% chlorine (taken from table salt) and 43% mineral oil. PVC thus saves the limited oil resources. So that PVC can be used in window profiles, other additives such as stabilisers, lubricants, polymers, fillers and colour pigments are added to the recipe.

Growing market percentage for vinyl windows.

The fenestration market is currently dominated by three materials: uPVC, wood and aluminium, either alone or in combination. Which material is used depends on several factors, such as the type of building, local zoning laws and construction regulations, the builder's personal tastes and the costs involved. One factor that is gaining in importance is the environmental impact caused by production, installation, usage and disposal.

With a market share of 54%, uPVC is the most important construction material in Germany, ahead of wood (26%) and aluminium (20%).
Source: Bau-Zeitung 53 (1999) 5, S 60ff

PVC ecological balance: advantages through recycling

In the recent past, several studies have been made on the environmental impact caused by the various raw materials used in the fenestration trade. For example, the report released by the Swiss Material Testing and Research Facility EMPA in 1996 clearly shows that

• the energy lost during the usable life-span of a window plays a much larger role in the environment than production-related environmental impact
• window frames with a closed recycling programme, such as uPVC window frames, earn a higher rating due to reduced environmental impact
• none of the tested materials showed any decisive advantage or disadvantage in environmental concerns

Therefore, material boycotts and usage bans are, according to EMPA, unfounded.

PVC at the top

In respect to vinyl windows, it is evident that their excellent thermal insulation properties, working recycling system, its worry-free maintenance and its long life will ensure that they will continue to lead in environmental aspects.

More information about PVC is available at: Arbeitsgemeinschaft PVC und Umwelt e.V. ( www.agpu.de), Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Schweizerischen PVC-Industrie ( www.pvch.ch), PVCplus (www.pvcplus.de) Forum Ökoeffizienz (www.oekoeffizienz.at)