By M. Power |
12/10/2009
PVC has always been plagued by two major environmental drawbacks: First, production of virgin PVC at high heat releases dioxins into the environment. Second, very little vinyl is ever recycled. That’s simply not acceptable.
CertainTeed’s [LINK: http:// www.certainteed.com] recent announcement that its CedarBoards siding product now includes 60% recycled content is a game changer. They have accomplished what vinyl siding makers for years have said is too impractical.
The product, CedarBoards, contains scrap PVC from various sources. The backing on the product, a polystyrene foam, contains no recycled content, but adds a little insulation and a thermal break to wood-framed walls—a useful feature especially on retrofit jobs, where in-wall insulation may be too costly for some buyers.
This partially recycled siding doesn’t address all of PVC siding’s environmental issues, but it’s a big step in the right direction. Because of its low cost and perceived durability (Conclusive research on that topic is still lacking.) vinyl is the product of choice for more than half the siding jobs in the country.
Most important, other manufacturers will have to raise the bar and start recycling.
Now that the 60% mark has been hit, can 90% or 100% recycled vinyl be far off? Next, we’d like to see an end of life program for used siding. CertainTeed says they’re working on a cradle to cradle program.—M. Power
Specs
FEATURED PRODUCT CedarBoards
Insulated Siding
manufacturer CertainTeed
Recycled Material 60% recycled PVC scrap
Insulating Backing Polystyrene foam
Total panel Projection 1 1/4
System R-Value 4.0 (approx.)
Impact Resistance 159.2in/lp.
CedarBoards is the only brand of vinyl siding (to our knowledge) using recycled PVC content.