Windows Of Opportunities
From research to reality: shaping the circular future of windows — paving the way for Switzerland’s first start-up dedicated to window reuse and recycling.
500’000’000 kg
…of flat glass are thrown away each year in Switzerland.
18%
…is recycled, the remaining 82% end up on the depony.
3x CO2
To produce 1m² of window, 3× more CO₂ is needed than for 1m² of 20cm concrete slab.
What can we do?
Repair
Avoid unnecessary waste
Is refurbishment really worthwhile?
SIA standard 380/1 can be used to calculate the energy requirement and assess whether replacing the windows makes ecological sense.
Repair instead of replacement
It is often sufficient to replace fittings or seals or install additional glazing – without replacing the entire window.
ReUse
Reuse instead of disposing
Reusing complete windows
If the condition, year of construction and thermal insulation are correct, entire windows can be reused as components.
Reuse the sash only
Even if the frame is no longer usable, the window sash can often be easily reused – especially in the case of timber or timber-aluminium constructions built in 1989 or later.
Preserving glass as a resource
With suitable U-values and sufficient quality, even the insulating glass can be reused.
Recycle
Returning materials back into the cycle
What can be recycled?
Flat glass in particular can be industrially recycled and processed into new glass.
More energy-efficient than new production
Recycling results in an average of 30% less CO₂ emissions – Frame materials are currently technically more difficult to recycle
