Praise for BS 8001 launch
27th June 2017

Major players in PVC-U window recycling have welcomed the introduction of BS 8001, officially launched this week as ‘the first ever standard for the Circular Economy’.

BSI, in launching the new standard, says the Circular Economy: “challenges organisations to re-think how their resources are managed to create financial, environmental and social benefits.

It continues: “BS 8001 was developed to meet these mutually beneficial goals, by providing guiding principles for organizations and individuals to consider and implement more sustainable practices. It is the first standard of its kind, both in the UK and globally.

The move was welcomed by the industry’s window recyclers as another big step in the recognition of the practice.
Simon Scholes, Commercial Director of Veka Recycling, told The Glazine: “There are a lot of recyclers doing a good job and others not so good. This standard will go a long way to helping the good ones in the industry to differentiate themselves. Recycling is to everyone’s benefit but its acceptance has sometimes been held back by variations in quality. I believe many respectable recyclers, as well as the systems companies that use their products, will be keen to adopt this standard.”

Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing, Eurocell said: “We welcome the development of a British Standard for the ‘circular economy’ as a sign that the concept is gaining wider acceptance. We have, through our Merritt business, the UK’s largest recycling facility for UPVC doors and windows and are fully committed to ensuring that the Eurocell manufacturing operation is as sustainable as possible through using as much recycled material as it can without compromising the quality of the finished product.”

Gareth Jones, Rehau Marketing & Technical Director, Window Solutions, said: “Rehau has invested heavily in our PVC-R factory, as well as implementing post-industrial and post-consumer waste collections from our customers. Through utilising this recycled product in the manufacture of new profiles we have created our own circular economy. With this foundation we welcome the new BSI kitemark and formalisation of such practices. We hope this will promote our actions and encourage the wider industry to act in accordance.”

BSI said in announcing the new standard: “One of the key aims of the circular economy is to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, in keeping with the mantra of the circular economy as being restorative and regenerative by design. BS 8001 outlines what the circular economy is and how an organization can transition from a linear to a circular, and more sustainable, day-to-day operation.

“Practical implementation of the six principles of the circular economy – innovation; stewardship; collaboration; value optimizations; transparency; and “systems thinking” – is the bedrock of the standard, and step-by-step guidance on how an organization can navigate through the different stages of implementation is provided. “Systems thinking” is defined in the standard as an understanding of how organizations, individual decisions and activities interact within the wider systems they are part of.

“The move to a ‘circular economy’ is a significant opportunity for businesses and organizations; by contributing to a resource efficient and low-carbon economy, costs and supply chain risks are reduced. Further benefits for businesses which choose to implement BS 8001 include improved resilience, new revenue streams, and enhanced corporate sustainability credentials.”

David Fatscher, Head of Sustainability at BSI, said: “BS 8001 is a world first and further evidence that BSI, as the UK national standards body, is demonstrating leadership in developing knowledge solutions which address global challenges.

“Resource productivity is at the heart of the government’s new Industrial Strategy and demonstrates how standards can be considered business improvement tools which help organizations unlock the untapped potential of sustainable growth. BS 8001 was developed to enable organizations to take practical actions to realize the economic and social benefits of the circular economy.”

BSI has also published an Executive Briefing on the new standard, which is available to download at https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/standards/benefits-of-using-standards/becoming-more-sustainable-with-standards/Circular-Economy/Executive-Briefing-BS-8001--a-Guide/