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We Care | We Act
Veka has revealed a new company slogan which it claims represents the caring nature of the family-owned business as it takes action to re-build a stable,...
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More Than Sustainable
As a global business with a reputation for product excellence we want to be recognised for much more than operational and commercial success, writes Robert Thiroff of profine UK and Kömmerling, as he outlines a vision of sustainability, corporate and social responsibility and employee engagement
We want to make a difference and that stems from the very top of the group through Dr Peter Mrosik, CEO and owner of profine Group. He tells each group company around the world: ‘Our sustainability policy isn’t just about ecology, it also extends to the social and economic environments’.
Credentials
We were the first major PVC-U systems house to remove lead as a stabiliser back in 2004 and today we continue to lead the way when it comes to the environment. We have ‘Zero Pellet Loss’ certification in Germany as part of ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ which is part of the plastic industry’s global effort to keep plastic out of the ocean. There are also initiatives across all of our manufacturing facilities to follow the same stringent processes and procedures too.
100% recycled
When it comes to materials processing, we have been proud to be part of several commercial projects in Europe that have used our ReFrame solution, a range of unique window and door profiles that are made from 100% recycled material and benefit from our unique proCoverTec surface finish technology. More recently we have also developed a revolutionary organic based material in the form of bio-attributed PVC, which harnesses a pine oil compound that has eliminated the use of petrochemicals in PVC extrusion.
Passive House
Other product innovations can be seen at our UK Design Centre, which includes a Passive House studio and already two of our senior sales staff have been trained in the principles of this important building standard. Our System 88 platform achieves Passive House in white and foiled finishes thanks to our proStratoTec technology and this is further extended into our lift and slide PremiDoor 88.
Recycling
In 2024 we will also be expanding our recycling facility so that we can build on the significant amount collected in 2023 as we look to integrate more recycled material in our products than ever before and that includes both window and door systems, along with a new range of building products due for launch this year. The importance of a UK based closed loop for recycling cannot be underestimated as we look to enhance our sustainability credentials as a caring corporate business.
Better World
Away from our direct business operations, on 1 January 2020 Kömmerling Better World was launched as a charitable organisation to fulfill our corporate and social responsibilities on a broad basis by supporting diverse charitable projects, helping people and contributing to making the world a better place. Much has been done to support the people of Ukraine and together with our partners have raised €589,000 thus far, along with providing 21 truckloads of goods, with a combined weight of 216,103 kg.
profine Energy and its own solar farms
As a business that consumes a considerable amount of energy both in the UK and overseas, we do not want to be reliant on direct energy partners unless it is absolutely necessary. The spikes in wholesale electricity prices in recent years has had a profound effect on the industry as a whole, particularly for large users like profine UK and the same can be said for the glass processors too.
So arguably our largest and most prestigious investment into sustainability is the investment in profine Energy GmbH with Wirth Group as a joint energy service provider. The task of profine Energy is to make the 29 locations of the profine Group in 23 countries largely independent of current electricity price developments.
Sites in Bulgaria, Serbia and Dominican Republic have already been earmarked for solar farms as profine Energy looks to build a more sustainable future for everyone. With product, people and environmental strategies in place, profine Group and the Kömmerling brand want to be recognised as an ethical pioneer under the brand mantra of ‘Today for Tomorrow.’
Pictures: Robert Thiroff has led the way on energy, environment and sustainability for profine and its Kömmerling brands in the UK and has been instrumental in the company’s global approach – including the establishment of profine Energy’s own solar farms.
Article written by Robert Thiroff, profine
09th April 2024