Scoop: new construction homes with plastic window frames made of 100% recycled material

Facade specialist Europrovyl has processed K-VISION profiles of 100% recycled plastic into window frames for Heijmans' new construction project Laakse Tuinen in Amersfoort Vathorst. This is the first time in the market that circular plastic window frames made from completely recycled material have been used in a new construction project. The window frames have been installed in 38 Heijmans gas-free concept homes. Future residents are expected to start enjoying their new homes in the fall.

Frame profile made of 100% recycled material

The K-VISION profiles that Europrovyl processes into window frames already partly consisted of recycled material. After an extensive innovation process, Profine, the company behind the K-VISION brand, succeeded in making circular profiles consisting of 100% recycled plastic.

To guarantee the UV resistance of recycled profiles and to give them a luxurious matte look and feel, the profiles are coated all around with the innovative color system proCoverTec. The window frames are maintenance-friendly, suitable for any building and living style and promote a safe and healthy living environment.

By applying this circular innovation in new construction houses, the parties involved - Europrovyl, profine Netherlands and Heijmans - are contributing to the goal of making the Netherlands circular by 2050.

A sustainable choice

The circular window frames are durable and have high insulation values. The plastic window frame has a lifespan of at least 50 years and can be recycled at least 10 times. This increases the life cycle up to 500 years and makes the plastic window frame an extremely suitable choice for sustainable construction.

Innovating for sustainable performance

Jan Slagman, director of innovation and sustainability: "in all our activities, we consider the impact on our employees, customers, society and the environment. This means that we are constantly looking for solutions to keep raw materials in a closed cycle and produce as sustainably as possible. Together with our profile supplier profine, we have arrived at the application of this circular innovation, which we are of course very proud of."

Jelmer Bijlsma, director profine Netherlands: "We are happy to cooperate with the goal of making the Netherlands circular by 2050. Therefore, we work company-wide in a circular manner; residual material from the processing of our profiles is taken back and we reprocess recycled plastic in the new profiles. Our circular working method and that of our partner Europrovyl has been laid down by Kiwa in the Covenant Circular Entrepreneurship. Innovations, such as the new circular window frame K-VISION Reframe, and cooperation with partners such as Europrovyl are great proof of this."

Theo van der Plas, Process Manager at Heijmans; "Heijmans has expressed its ambition to be CO2 neutral and to build 100 percent circularly after 2023. We want to use raw materials as efficiently as possible and reuse them wherever possible. We can't do that alone. We will only achieve our goals if we bring colleagues and our cooperation partners along with us. Our Heijmans Woonconcept is extremely suitable for taking steps in this direction because of the fixed housing types and the co-makers involved. That is why we are pleased to have a co-maker like Europrovyl. By installing 100 percent circular window frames, we are taking another step forward towards 2023.."