Exactly what goes into our product? What happens to it after it is finished with? What resources are used in making it? DEVENTER Weatherseals, a member of the Wood Window Alliance, wanted to know, as part of establishing 21st century definitions of quality and value.
In September 2014, DEVENTER started the process of Cradle-to-Cradle certification, which was to lead to a Basic level certification in February 2015 – so far we are the only weatherseals manufacturer in the world to have achieved this.
The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard guides manufacturers through a continual improvement process that looks at a product through five quality categories:
• material health
• material reutilization
• renewable energy and carbon management
• water stewardship
• and social fairness.
A product receives an achievement level in each category — Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum — with the lowest achievement level representing the product’s overall mark.
Product assessments are performed by a qualified independent organization. Assessment Summary Reports are reviewed by the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which certifies products meeting the Standard requirements. Every two years, manufacturers must demonstrate good faith efforts to improve their products in order to have their products re-certified.
Material health is a particularly important category for DEVENTER. We don’t want our products to have negative environmental effects or to present any health risks. To achieve the Basic level certificate, the raw materials we use must pass the ‘Banned List of Chemicals’. So, in addition to the fact that the materials DEVENTER seals and gaskets are made from are 100% recyclable, we now have proof that the materials have no adverse human health effects during manufacture, use and disposal.
Substances on the Banned list include PVC, phosphates and chemicals such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic, and were selected due to their tendency to accumulate in the biosphere and lead to irreversible negative human health effects. In addition, several substances were selected due to hazardous characteristics associated with their manufacture, use, and disposal.
DEVENTER is engaged in a continuous process of improvement of our materials, energy use, water stewardship and social fairness to achieve next level certificate in the future. One of our goals is to develop a Cradle-to-Cradle certified window or door in collaboration with interested companies. So if you are interested, feel free to contact Kees Verweel (+31 6 12955683 or kees.verweel@deventer-profielen.nl)
Learn more about Cradle-to-Cradle here.