The environmentally sustainable choice

The materials and component we use to create our new buildings and refurbish existing ones are coming under the spotlight more than ever before as we strive towards a highly sustainable society.

The battle against climate change is constant and buildings are a major CO2 contributor. To ensure our buildings are energy efficient in the long term and created using materials that have not cost the earth to produce, product selection and specification must take into account the whole life cycle and consider post-use disposal.

Unlike other materials used in window frames, PVC performs extremely well in terms of sustainability. PVC is extremely resource-efficient in its manufacture and in the case of CMS, creates windows that offer excellent thermal performance over a long lifetime. In addition, when PVC frames are eventually replaced, they can be easily collected and recycled compared with other materials.

Recycling

CMS Enviro Systems demonstrated their commitment to 'closure of the loop' by opening a recycling facility in Glenrothes, Fife. The facility, which opened in March 2009, handles the recycling of all extracted timber, PVC and metal windows and doors from domestic council properties throughout the region and has the capacity to process entire window frames at the rate of 700 per week.

This also accommodates East and West coast installation contracts, minimises transport costs and helps to reduce our carbon footprint. Working in partnership with our supply chain partners we also segregate and recycle all broken/ surplus glass, metal, paper, polythene, PVC and timber as a separate added value service, with a view to achieving zero to landfill by the end of 2010.