09/05/2005 – Wood windows
are better for the environment than PVC windows,
a new report by WWF-UK has concluded.
The report – Window of opportunity: The environmental
and economic benefits of specifying timber
window frames – shows that windows made from
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) were found to be
less sustainable and more hazardous than wood.
WWF is encouraging specifiers and buyers
of windows to choose wood which has been certified
by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This
guarantees the wood has been sourced from
a well-managed forest or other controlled
wood source, and ensures that the timber is
legal and not from a controversial source.
PVC is made from oil, a non-renewable source
which makes up to 43 per cent of the thermoplastic
material. PVC windows also generate more waste
and use eight times more energy to manufacture
than timber windows. The report also states
that hazardous chemicals are released into
the environment when PVCs are incinerated
– one of the methods of disposal.
Throughout the use and disposal of the product,
the overall environmental impact is significantly
less for timber windows than for PVC windows.
"WWF believes that timber is a genuinely
renewable resource if managed responsibly
which is why we urge specifiers and buyers
to choose FSC-certified wood," said Christian
Thompson, a WWF forests officer.
"This report clearly shows that PVC
windows are far from environmentally friendly
and I hope it will go some way to dispelling
the myth that they are a green choice."
The report is written for specifiers and
buyers, such as procurement managers in government
departments, who are in the difficult position
of having to make decisions on the most economical
and environmentally responsible window to
specify or buy. This includes ensuring that
their commitment to cost-effective purchasing
is met.
WWF is working to increase the availability
of wood from well-managed forests, such as
products certified by the FSC. Members of
the WWF-UK Forest & Trade Network (WWF-UK
FTN) have committed to phasing out illegal
timber from their supply chain and to increase
the amount of credible certified material
they source.
