Window frames are made from various materials, with timber and uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic that does not contain Bisphenol A or phthalates) among the most widely used. While some argue that timber contributes to deforestation, research comparing the full lifecycle of different frame materials found that uPVC has the worst environmental impact across almost all categories, including human toxicity, global warming, and ozone layer depletion. This is largely a consequence of the energy-intensive manufacturing process and the fact that uPVC does not decompose.
For property insurers, this matters. Window replacement is one of the most common reinstatement activities following escape of water, storm, or accidental damage claims, and uPVC frames dominate the residential stock that most household insurers cover. The volume of windows replaced through insurer-funded repairs each year is significant, and the material choices made at supplier and contractor level directly affect the carbon footprint of a claims operation.
The practical alternative to disposing of uPVC to landfill is recycling. The process begins with collection and grinding the material into small particles, which are then separated by colour and passed through multiple stages to remove impurities such as metals and silica. The by-products of this process can be repurposed for other building applications. Clean granulated material is then further ground into powder or pelletised for use in manufacturing new windows, doors, and pipes.
Recycled uPVC requires less energy to produce than virgin material and prevents the consumption of additional natural resources, supporting a circular economy approach to building materials. For insurers looking to reduce the Scope 3 emissions associated with their repair supply chains, sourcing recycled or recyclable window materials through preferred supplier agreements is one of the more practical and commercially viable steps available, particularly as recycled uPVC carries no meaningful performance disadvantage over new material.
The challenge for most insurers is that material specification decisions of this kind sit within contractor and supplier remits rather than being governed centrally. Embedding recycled material preferences into supplier contracts, tender criteria, and performance scorecards is the mechanism that turns a sustainability objective into a consistent operational outcome.
Related reading
The circular economy argument for recycled uPVC is well made at a material level, but property insurers face a broader set of sustainability decisions across their repair supply chains, covering not just window replacement but drying methods, travel footprint, waste disposal, and the repair-over-replace question more generally. Our article on sustainability in property insurance repair sets out how insurers can approach these decisions strategically, building environmental considerations into supplier selection and contract design in a way that is commercially viable under current cost pressures rather than simply aspirational.
How Procurato can help
Turning a material sourcing preference into a consistent supply chain outcome requires it to be written into the contracts, scorecards, and tender criteria that govern your supplier relationships. Our Sustainable Procurement across the Supply Chain service helps organisations do exactly that: reviewing current supplier arrangements for sustainability credentials, identifying where greener alternatives are commercially viable, and building the governance frameworks that make environmental objectives measurable rather than aspirational. If you want to understand how your property claims supply chain currently performs against your ESG commitments, we are happy to start that conversation.
Stay Ahead in Insurance
Join our newsletter for insights on claims innovation, operational efficiency and market trends for insurance leaders.
