Durable building materials
Zinc, EPDM and Copper
Zinc, EPDM and Copper are sustainable building materials that last for generations and have their place in energy-conscious and sustainable buildings.
Exceptional lifespan
Longevity is a cornerstone of sustainable construction. Zinc, EPDM and Copper exemplify this with their exceptional lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements. This not only conserves resources but also minimizes waste generation.
Zinc and Copper form a protective patina that protects them from corrosion, allowing them to last from 80 years to 120 years, depending on environmental conditions.
EPDM membranes have a recognized lifespan of over 50 years.
Effective recycling
Our sustainable building materials also stand out for their recyclability.
Zinc is one of the few materials that can be recycled infinitely without losing its properties. VM Building Solutions supports this through take-back schemes and certifications, ensuring an efficient recycling process.
In Western Europe approximately 100,000 tons of Zinc are recovered annually, which is the equivalent to a quarter of the zinc on roofs in Paris. This extensive recycling effort saves one to two million tons of mining resources every year. The recycling process results in one of the highest effective recycling rates in the construction sector, with studies showing that 98.9% of end of life rolled Zinc is being recycled.
Our commitment also extends to the continuous improvement of our products’ recyclability. We are actively exploring and developing new solutions that aim to be 100% recycled. This ongoing innovation supports a circular economy, ensuring no downcycling but maintaining material quality.
Recycled EPDM can be reused as a semi-finished product, avoiding residual waste. It finds new life in various applications, from children’s playgrounds to synthetic football pitches and terrace beam and block systems.
VM Building Solutions actively supports take-back schemes for circular processing of obsolete EPDM membranes.
- The process to return EPDM into EPDM production process is to devulcanize the EPDM. Devulcanization requires energy.
- In our devulcanized EPDM rubber from production waste is used as an additive to the virgin EPDM use (up to 10%°).
Our Copper products are also 100% recyclable. Just as zinc, Copper can be recycled infinitely without any loss in quality producing 100% copper scrap. Product manufacturing clippings are an integral part of production and are fully recycled back into the process. The copper we use in our zinc alloys is over 95% recycled production waste.
Nordic Copper products are produced from recycled phosphorus de-oxidised copper.
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