Sustainability
Environmental Stewardship
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RECYCLING VINYL WASTE FOR LONG-LASTING IMPACT
Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride is a plastic that has proven its value in a great many industrial applications, including vinyl window frames and vinyl fencing. Vinyl maintains its strength and structure for a long time and, when mixed with proper UV stabilizers, can function properly for decades even in bad weather or hot sun. This means that frames and fence posts made from vinyl will often last longer in a home than traditional wood window frames or wooden fence slats. But while this longevity makes vinyl great for our products, it also means that scrap material could last many years in a landfill before it finally degrades. That is why Quanex is committed to reusing and recycling as much vinyl waste as possible.
Currently, Quanex manufactures vinyl extrusions in the United States and through our international company, Liniar, in the United Kingdom. Each of these businesses takes a slightly different approach to repurposing vinyl scrap, but both have been extremely successful at reducing the amount of vinyl waste sent to landfills.
Our scrap materials could last many years before degrading, which is why we are committed to reusing and recycling as much vinyl waste as possible.
The Liniar team uses its waste vinyl to manufacture a home decking product. Because it is made with vinyl, this decking product has proven to be extremely durable and long-lasting with little required maintenance. In fiscal 2022, Liniar reprocessed 1,539 metric tons of vinyl scrap into Decking, Fencing, Reinforcement, Piling and ancillary items.
The Mikron team uses scrap vinyl material to produce a variety of fence components, including fence rails, top rails, fence panels, fence posts, and post caps. In addition, Mikron repurposes other vinyl scrap for use as a packing component when it ships other products to its customers. In fiscal year 2022, Mikron repurposed 645 metric tons of vinyl for use in packaging and 1,003 metric tons for use in manufacturing fence components.
In total, we repurposed 3,187 tons of vinyl that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.
We are likewise continually considering alternate uses for recycled vinyl and other ways in which we might be able to repurpose our vinyl scrap. Quanex is committed to protecting the environment in which we live and operate. Reducing vinyl landfill waste is just one of the ways we are doing so.