Marshall-Tufflex recycle PVC-U windows and use them to make trunking and conduit. A comprehensive process including shredding, cleaning and filtering the PVC-U before it can be used to make new conduit and trunking products is explained in this video.
The construction industry produces huge amounts of waste each year. Marshall-Tufflex, take their impact on the environment very seriously and work hard to utilise recycled material originating from windows within their products.
Recycled PVC-U mainly comes from post industrial waste (off-cuts from PVC-U window production) and post-consumer waste (from PVC-U windows removed from buildings at the end of their lives). This raw material is more robust and higher quality than normal conduit or trunking virgin grade extrusion PVC-U because the material used to make windows is designed to withstand external elements and is generally considered the best standard PVC-U available.
From 1st January to 31st December 2022, Marshall-Tufflex used 69% recycled material across their PVC-U product range. Where the aesthetic finish of products is not so important, far higher percentages of recycled material can be used. For example, white Mini and Maxi trunking lengths and white conduit is manufactured using between 80 and 100% recycled material.
With the government’s target to meet net zero by 2050, sustainability is a key consideration in all areas of a building’s design. With the construction industry generating huge quantities of waste each year, much of which ends up in landfill, it is clear more needs to be done to reduce the amount of waste produced.
Marshall-Tufflex actively campaign for all PVC-U cable management products installed in buildings to be manufactured using recycled material. The aim of this initiative is to encourage specifiers to state a minimum of 50% recycled material in specifications where PVC-U products are used. But it doesn’t end there, as they are also encouraging installers and wholesalers to ask the question. ‘Is this product I’m using or selling made using recycled material?’ Serious consideration should be given to the sustainability credentials of the product and if the quality is the same, or better and the price is comparable, product utilising recycled material has to be the best option.
To ensure consistent quality across all products, material samples are reguarly taken from the production line to check for consistency in colour and surface finish to ensure consistent, high quality products.