The VELUX Group removes almost all plastic from its sloped roof window packaging
The VELUX Group announce that 90 percent1 of its sloped roof window packaging is now plastic-free and instead made of a paper-based single material. The VELUX Group is using the new paper-based packaging for all its most popular sloped roof windows. This will save up to 900 tonnes of plastic per year and result in easier disposal of packaging waste for customers.
Globally, 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year, and researchers estimate that 60% of the plastic produced since 1950 has ended up in landfills or the natural environment2. Plastics developed to have a single-use are proven to have a negative impact on biodiversity and the natural environment if they end up in the wrong places3. Instead of plastic, the new window packaging will consist of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cardboard.
With expanded polystyrene (EPS) plastic components removed, VELUX customers will save time on separating and sorting packaging waste, making disposal processes both more efficient and cheaper.
This transformation has led to a 13% reduction of the carbon footprint of the VELUX Group’s packaging for sloped roof windows and is key to delivering on its overall sustainability strategy target to make its packaging single material, zero plastic and 100 percent recyclable by 2030. It also marks the first step in an extensive sustainable transformation of how the VELUX Group does business and what products and solutions it brings to the market.
At VELUX, we are committed to doing our part to achieve a more sustainable future, by putting the planet and nature at the heart of our product decisions. Our packaging is an important component of our products and must therefore also be as environmentally friendly as possible. We’re proud to be significantly reducing the amount of plastic we use to package and protect our roof windows. It’s an important step towards achieving what we call the ‘Green our packaging’ sustainability target,
Notes
1You will experience zero plastic in the packaging of the following roof window types: GGL, GGU, GPL, GPU*, GZL, GLL, GLU. Both manual and electric variants.
*For GPU, only the manual variants are part of this first phase of the project.
2 United Nations Environment Programme: UNEP
3 New Study Shows Plastic in Oceans Is on the Rise (nationalgeographic.com) and Single-Use Plastics 101 (2020), NRDC. [online] 09 April. Available at: NRDC [Accessed 25 Feb. 2021].
About the VELUX Group
For more than 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 36 countries and around 11,000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2022, the VELUX Group had total revenue of EUR 2.99 billion, VKR Holding had total revenue of EUR 4.29 billion, and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 181 million in charitable grants.
For more information about VELUX Group, visit velux.com.