CMS Window Systems has been recognised for its commitment to ‘closed loop’ recycling by winning the award for ‘Best Circular Economy Initiative’ at the Scottish Resources Awards.

The window, door and curtain walling designer, manufacturer and installer was presented with the award at a prestigious ceremony in Edinburgh in recognition for its hard work to “retain the value of objects, by making things last and as a result helping conserve finite resources, support jobs and improve quality of life”.

CMS’s process of recycling waste materials, a key priority for the Scottish Government and awards organisers the CIWM, ensures 95 per cent of waste is directed away from landfill every year and is unique in the fenestration industry.

All windows and doors extracted as part of CMS’s refurbishment contracts are separated into their component parts at one of its two dedicated recycling plants in Cumbernauld and Kirkcaldy.

Waste PVC and glass separated from old extracted windows is returned to CMS’s supply chain partners for re-use in new window products. The result is that the strengthening core of new PVCu windows manufactured and installed by CMS contain 100 per cent recycled PVC and the outside frames, 10 per cent recycled PVC.

The recycled content of its double glazed sealed units is an industry-leading 38 per cent. When, after 35 years, new CMS windows reach the end of their service life the post-use frames and glass will be fed back to be recycled and then recreated into new windows again, completely closing the loop.

Andy Kerr, managing director at CMS Window Systems, said: “It’s fantastic to win this award as it recognises our hard work for something that underpins our whole business, recycling and re-use. Materials like PVCu, aluminium and glass are so straightforward in terms of recycling providing you have the right processes and supply chain partners in place, and as a business we’ve never lost sight of how important this is to give our customers the most sustainable doors and windows.”