Veka and Saint-Gobain Glass join forces for a window with a lower carbon footprint

New environmental and health declaration forms (FDES) to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings

The combination of two products with high recycled content, 70% for VEKA REcycle PVC profiles and 64% for ORAÉ double glazing^®(2), allows you to obtain carpentry with improved performance⁽³⁾The joint FDES will enable VEKA REcycle partners and Saint-Gobain Glass France customers to benefit from these performances with regard to construction stakeholders.

These FDES will be published by the end of the first half of 2025 on the INIES database. They will be made available to construction stakeholders who, within the framework of RE 2020, will be able to take into account, in calculating the carbon weight of buildings, the high environmental performance of VEKA REcycle ORAÉ joinery.^®.

Products with a reduced carbon footprint and made in France

Saint-Gobain Glass has launched ORAÉ low-carbon glass^® in 2022. ORAÉ double glazing^®, manufactured by the processing networks, Saint-Gobain Vitrage Bâtiment and Glassolutions, allows a 30% reduction in CO emissions₂ compared to standard double glazing. This is made possible thanks to the use of a high recycled content (64%) and the operational excellence of the processing plants in France. The double glazing manufactured by Glassolutions and Saint-Gobain Vitrage Bâtiment is certified “Origine France Garantie”.⁽⁴⁾

With the VEKA REcycle solution, VEKA offers a comprehensive approach to eco-design and the circular economy. This brings together VEKA's partner manufacturers and VEKA Recyclage, as well as all stakeholders in collection, dismantling, and eco-organizations. This approach makes it possible to now offer low-carbon joinery, with a CO50 emissions close to 2 kg and incorporating up to 70% end-of-life recycled PVC in the joinery.⁽⁵⁾

VEKA and Saint-Gobain Glass are committed to the closed-loop collection and recycling of end-of-life joinery.

By signing this partnership, they aim to jointly reduce the carbon footprint of new PVC joinery and strengthen their collaboration to create new synergies. In 2024, VEKA Recyclage collected and processed 26.000 tons of end-of-life PVC windows. For its part, Saint-Gobain Glass France received and loaded more than 7.000 tons of cullet into its factories in 2024. Recycling end-of-life joinery in a closed loop thus helps preserve natural resources and decarbonize the production of PVC and flat glass.

For Emmanuel Demesmay: « For over 30 years, VEKA has placed recycling and the circular economy at the heart of its strategy. The PVC window, which incorporates 70% recycled PVC, is highly efficient from a thermal, acoustic, and ecological perspective. It is therefore natural to strengthen our collaboration with Saint-Gobain Glass, a pioneer in the integration of recycled materials into glazing. Together, we aim to encourage a sustainable approach to our activities; promoting quality collection, recycling, and the reintegration of materials, in a closed loop, into the joinery. »

For Maud Thuaudet: « We are delighted to partner with VEKA, with whom we share the ambition of a circular economy committed to the decarbonization of joinery. These joint EPDs allow our customers to benefit from the best of our initiatives. »

⁽¹⁾ Low carbon footprint compared to the standard VEKA FDES

⁽²⁾ CLIMAPLUS double glazing^® NOW^®

⁽³⁾ Compared to the FDES partners Range 70 VEKA REcycle.

⁽⁴⁾ Concerns double glazing from the CLIMAPLUS ranges^® and CLIMALIT^® for Saint-Gobain Vitrage Bâtiment. For Glassolutions, the certification concerns double glazing from the CLIMAPLUS ranges^® and CLIMALIT^® and the CLIMATOP triple glazing range^® (excluding printed glasses)

⁽⁵⁾ In the VEKA REcycle 70 Range Window System.