Environmental protection

Product roadmaps - Window systems

As part of our work on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), we are developing ten product roadmaps to reduce the environmental impacts across the life cycle of a range of priority products, including window systems.

Why window systems?

Evidence shows that, at an EU-25 level, housing – which includes buildings, construction and appliances – accounts for 20-35 percent of all environmental impacts. Within this broader category we know that window systems can generate significant environmental impacts across the lifecycle, for example, waste at the end of life.


Scope of the roadmap

The roadmap will address the signifcant life cycle environmental impacts as well as enable us to explore the contribution of window systems to increasing the sustainability of buildings through their lighting and insulation properties and recycling potential.

Improving sustainability

We will develop actions to address the environmental impacts that occur across the life cycle of window systems, where evidence shows this would be most effective. In developing the window systems roadmap, we are keen to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders.

Current activities

A report detailing the current status of the roadmap has been prepared to coincide with the publication of the Progress Report on Sustainable Products and Materials.

Impacts

  • in 2003 it was estimated that 195,000 tonnes of waste arose from the domestic windows sector
  • this is predicted to rise to 295,000 tonnes in 2020


Consumption trends

  • total stock of windows in the UK housing market is estimated at around 230 million units, increasing by around 1.5 million units a year
  • about 20 percent of new windows are installed within one year of a homeowner’s move
  • 16 percent are installed in homes up to ten years old1


Further information

 

1 Source: Market Transformation Programme

 

Page last modified:10 July 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs