Despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic, Rewindo GmbH Fenster-Recycling-Service, Bonn, was able to repeatedly report a significant increase in recycling volumes of PVC old windows, doors and roller shutters in 2020. "Just under eight percent growth - that is an excellent result," says Managing Director Michael Vetter. "And this despite the fact that quite a few construction projects were at least postponed last year because of Corona and our recycling partners were able to travel less than usual to acquire suitable projects." The current report published by Rewindo Flyer "plastic window recycling in numbers 2020". records 38,263 tonnes of PVC recyclate as post-consumer quantity, which corresponds to about two million old windows, and 97,228 tonnes of profile sections and production residues as pre-consumer recycling quantity. In total, therefore, more than 135,000 tonnes of secondary raw material, which saves resources and CO2 saves.
Uniform recording throughout Europe
"This means that Rewindo has once again made a not inconsiderable contribution to achieving the VinylPlus recycling targets.®which aims to recycle a total of one million tonnes of PVC per year by 2030," says Vetter. What is new is that Rewindo is now part of the Recovinyl®-RecoTrace™ data collection system. The recycling quantities of the Rewindo recycling partners for 2020 were thus recorded via RecoTrace™ for the first time - standardised across Europe. The RecoTrace™-verified values for plastic window recycling supplied by Rewindo for Germany flow into the likewise newly established PolyREC overview (www.polyrec.eu). This platform, which is also recognised by the EU Commission, provides an overview of all relevant plastics recycling data in Europe.
Increased effectiveness of the network
Vetter also attributes the positive development of recycling volumes in Germany to the increased effectiveness of the expanded Rewindo network. The 60 new collection points for small and very small quantities of PVC windows and the active support of the steadily increasing number of Premium Partners are noticeably increasing the return rate. Rewindo currently has a total of 22 Premium Partner companies, including 15 from the window construction industry, three extrusion companies, two film manufacturers and two companies from the recycling machinery industry. A campaign to recruit companies from the glass and fittings industry will start soon. The goal is to eventually represent the entire PVC value chain as Rewindo Premium Partners.