The Ulm-based aluminium systems company WICONA has once again shown that environmental responsibility has the highest priority. At the beginning of 2017, WICONA system solutions were awarded the Bronze Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certificate. Just two years later, WICONA window, door and façade solutions were awarded the Silver Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certificate at BAU 2019.
“The guiding principle of sustainability has been an integral part of WICONA’s strategy for many years, and is visibly in practice in other areas and activities in the market”, explains Managing Director Ralf Seufert. “We are particularly demonstrating that with the innovations at BAU 2019.” Two years ago, WICONA was awarded its first C2C Certificate, in Bronze. “Since then, we have continually worked to further improve our production standards in terms of sustainability”, says Seufert, “so that we can achieve the next level, C2C Silver, for each relevant system solution. That has now been achieved for all our system solutions.”
The structural glazing systems and the WICSTYLE 77FP fire protection door contain components and materials which do not yet fully meet the criteria for C2C Silver. In the medium term, WICONA needs to attain the C2C Silver requirement for these system solutions too, and is currently working on the innovations needed for this. Therefore, for the time being, these system solutions remain at the Bronze level.
The C2C certificate complements and also offers an alternative to the well-known building certificates (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, etc.) Its criteria are directly related to the product, not to the entire building. The responsibility of the product manufacturer, including the entire prefabrication and supply chain, comes into focus. The five C2C categories (material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness and biodiversity) enable all aspects of the materials used, the manufacturing process – including the company’s social responsibility and its impact for society – to be considered throughout the certification process.
For example, water stewardship, possible production waste and its handling, as well as energy consumption were very precisely analysed. The evaluation of social standards goes as far as assessing what the company gives back in added value to its immediate environment.
The requirements of the C2C “material health” category are particularly stringent. They must not con-tain any constituents that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. WICONA fully satisfies these criteria through its very close and responsible cooperation with its suppliers. For Silver status, 95% (75% for Bronze) of the mass percentage of a product is analysed and assessed.
C2C Silver Certification provides the WICONA brand, and thus also its partners, with greater and more qualified recognition in the international competitive environment and when tendering for contracts. WICONA system solutions can therefore be positioned as high-value and future-orientated. Architects and planners can automatically apply the C2C Silver Standard with almost all WICONA system solutions. C2C Silver Certification offers WICONA partners the opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition and to score points with their clients with the combination of high-tech systems plus sustainability.
from left to right: Katja Hansen (senior C2C advisor for EPEA GmbH) with Ralf Seufert (Managing Director Hydro Building Systems Germany GmbH) and Henri Gomez (Business Unit President Building Systems at Norsk Hydro ASA)
Katja Hansen hands over the Silver Cradle to Cradle certificates to Ralf Seufert and Henri Gomez at BAU 2019.
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For further information:
Hydro Building Systems Germany GmbH WICONA Einsteinstrasse 61 D-89077 Ulm www.wicona.de
Press: Ina Groß, Communication Manager T: +49 (0) 7 31 – 39 84-184 E: ina.gross@hydro.com
Press Office: Egen-Gödde Tauberweg 8 D-86916 Kaufering T: +49 (0) 81 91 – 6 69 61 E: prleg@t-online.de
Source: www.wicona.de