Sustainable approach to designing window profiles to reduce environmental impact

Abstract

The article reveals the importance of sustainable product design as an important criterion in the formation of environmentally friendly and resource-efficient PVC-based building products. The study aims to determine the role of environmentally oriented design in increasing the efficiency of recycling plastic window and door profiles. Sustainable design is seen as a strategy that takes into account all stages of the product's life cycle, from raw material selection to disposal, with a focus on reducing negative environmental impact, energy efficiency, maintainability, and reusability. The article analyzes the basic principles of sustainable design, including the use of safe and renewable materials, waste minimization, energy-saving production, ease of disassembly, and recyclability. The importance of incorporating recycled PVC into profile designs and the compatibility of new materials with existing recycling systems is emphasized. It is emphasized that proper design can reduce resource consumption at the processing stages and reduce the toxic load on the environment.
The authors paid special attention to the review of innovative solutions in materials science: PVC profiles made of fully recycled plastic, WPC composites (a combination of wood and PVC), and the promising technology of Bio-PVC based on vegetable oils. Bio-PVC, as noted in the article, is an important alternative that reduces dependence on petrochemical raw materials, reduces toxicity, and promotes integration into the circular economy.
European cases of successful implementation of recycling initiatives are analyzed: in particular, the German Rewindo project, programs in France and Poland. These examples demonstrate how legislative and infrastructural changes can create effective mechanisms for collecting and recycling PVC windows and doors. The article also emphasizes that the introduction of sustainable design is the key to meeting modern environmental standards (REACH, BREEAM, LEED) and increasing the investment attractiveness of production.
In conclusion, it is emphasized that sustainable design is not only an engineering approach, but also a strategic model for transforming the industry in line with the challenges of climate policy. It is a key factor in reducing the carbon footprint, improving environmental safety, optimizing resources and creating new opportunities in the construction industry.