A green theme
Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell welcomes the abundance of green-related news this week.
Green stories sit prominently in our newsletter this week; since the climate crisis has become ever more prominent in the news, it is encouraging that our industry can boast positive action.
I’m not alone in thinking that we should all be doing more to lessen our impact on the planet. However, it is also worth noting that there is probably a significant business case for introducing and promoting your green credentials.
Westbury Garden Rooms claimed this week that homeowners are taking a significant interest in the carbon footprint of their renovation, both during the manufacturing process and after the build is complete.
And even the most luxurious of projects can boast carbon neutral status if the right products and installation techniques are used.
It is then nice to take a moment to polish your halo in response to news that the UK has been ranked second in Europe – behind Germany – in collecting and recycling waste PVC, with a total of 137,989 tonnes recycled in 2018 across all PVC recycling formats.
Of this total, PVC window profiles accounted for 73,703 tonnes, according to latest industry figures.
The UK’s sizeable effort represents around 19% of the 739,525 tonnes of waste PVC recycled throughout Europe in 2018 – a new record high. Across Europe, window profiles and related building products accounted for 44% of the total PVC recycled.
This news will put wind in the sails of Veka Recycling, which has increased its production space to 20,000ft2.
Simon Scholes, managing director at Veka Recycling, said: “With the public increasingly showing grave concern for the future of our planet, installers and fabricators can, with confidence, share the knowledge that used materials are disposed of responsibly, and will give life to new products.”
Talking of halos, members of the GM Fundraising team recently presented a cheque for £208,891.72 to Hope House Children’s Hospices, which provides palliative care for children with terminal conditions and support for their families. The final amount was the result of the tremendous efforts made by the team of the 2019 ‘From Russia With Hope’ cycling challenge.
Gary Morton, founder of GM Fundraising, said: “From Russia With Hope was our last cycling challenge and we really went out on a high. Raising £208,891.72 is simply astounding – it’s the biggest amount an event of ours has ever raised and we are delighted. Each member of the team would like to thank everyone who sponsored them on this cycling challenge. Thanks must also go to headline sponsor Brisant Secure, who supported us at every level throughout the journey.”
From Russia With Hope was the last of seven great cycling challenges organised by GM Fundraising, but 2020 will still see plenty of fundraising activity from the group.
One of the biggest of these will be the second all-women challenge, which has the Epwin Group as its headline sponsor. Peak, Paddle, Pedal will see the 12 members of the team climbing Snowdon, canoeing 150 miles down the length of the River Severn and cycling 150 miles back to Hope House in Oswestry – all over eight days next August.