Indian market prefers products built entirely from virgin materials 

Mario Schmidt analyses India’s evolving needs for sustainability, highlighting the environmental consequences, challenges, and Lingel’s continued contribution to crafting a greener future through its uPVC solutions.

The sustainability discourse in India’s building industry has evolved over the previous decade, particularly in the uPVC sector. Lingel has been at the forefront of environmental initiatives since 2011. As the construction sector embraces more sustainable methods, one issue remains: “What exactly does sustainability mean?”

Sustainability is more than just a marketing term; it necessitates an extensive understanding of the materials, energy use, product lifespan and recycling.  This is especially true in the uPVC window sector, which has attracted criticism for its reliance on crude oil-based ingredients for production. The challenge is to relook at the demand for energy-efficient, long-lasting, and cost-effective solutions for environmental sustainability.

In India, uPVC has gained popularity because of its energy efficiency, low maintenance requirements, and long lifespan, making it the preferred material for window profiles. However, the sustainability of uPVC is still being debated. Unlike aluminium, which can be recycled forever without losing quality, uPVC recycling is difficult. When uPVC windows are recycled, the material cannot be restored to its original quality, making its environmental impact questionable. Using virgin materials in production raises problems because it is based on crude oil extraction, which is resource-intensive and adds to carbon emissions.

However, advancements in the uPVC sector are addressing these challenges. In Europe, especially Germany, the industry is forced through government norms to use large recycled components in uPVC window profiles. While the outside skin is composed of virgin material to preserve the product’s appearance and longevity, the inner core is frequently constructed of recycled PVC. This technology greatly reduces the requirement for fresh crude oil, reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing uPVC windows. However, this technique is still in its early stages in India, owing to gaps in consumer awareness and a lack of governmental regulations supporting the use of recycled materials.

Despite the rising demand for sustainable construction materials, the Indian market prefers products built entirely from virgin materials. This presents a barrier to sustainable development since several consumers are unaware that uPVC windows built from recycled components can function just as well as those made from new materials and may even be more ecologically friendly. However, the transition to more recycled PVC depends on educating both consumers and manufacturers and government cooperation to enforce recycling standards.

Lingel actively contributes to this transition by measuring their products’ carbon footprints and cooperating with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to offset emissions through tree-planting projects. Lingel also supports and welcomes this starting stage of incorporating more recycled content into their uPVC window products.

We would like to be the pioneers following this European design model and gradually educate the market on the environmental benefits of these materials. While the move to fully sustainable uPVC products may take some time, initiatives like these are critical to bringing the industry forward.

However, the path to widespread sustainable development in India’s uPVC industry is not without obstacles. In contrast to Europe, where energy principles and minimum recyclable content standards are in place, India lacks such legislation, making it harder to ensure that sustainable practices are widely followed. Implementing certifications for uPVC window profiles, similar to energy-efficiency star ratings for windows, may provide essential incentives to promote the change. This would help manufacturers align with sustainability goals while creating a more transparent and consumer-friendly market for energy-efficient, recycled-content windows.

For more details, visit: https://www.lingelwindows.com/

26