Sustainable glass manufacturer contributes to circular facade solutions with Cradle to Cradle and Madaster 

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in facade construction, and Pilkington Netherlands is playing an active role in accelerating the transition to a circular facade economy. "With Cradle to Cradle certified® (C2C)-certified glass solutions and the use of Madaster, we encourage reuse and high-quality recycling of materials in facade construction," said Gerrit Maring, sustainability coordinator at Pilkington Nederland.

Building Circularly with Cradle to Cradle 

A good example of circular construction is the House of the City of Helmond, where C2C-certified insulating glass products from Pilkington were used. This city hall, designed by Kraaijvanger Architects, shows how reusable, healthy materials can be flexibly reused. The C2C certification ensures that harmful substances are absent or reduced to an extreme minimum, keeping them out of the cycle: an important contribution to a healthy building cycle. This focus on Material Health - one of the five pillars of the Cradle to Cradle principle - is essential in facade construction, where materials often have a long lifespan. Gerrit: "This is without a doubt the way to build a sustainable future."

Madaster: the materials passport 

The Madaster platform, co-founded by architect Thomas Rau, also supports this circular vision. "Madaster acts as a digital land registry and materials passport, with detailed information on the origin, composition and reusability of materials," Gerrit explains. "For facade construction, this means that the lifespan and reuse of materials are already taken into account at the design stage." One construction project where a requirement has been set that all materials used be registered in Madaster is the Huis van de Stad Amersfoort. This means that this project is already anticipating the European DPP (Digital Product Passport) legislation that will be introduced between 2025 and 2027.

European regulation and the future 

Cradle to Cradle-certified materials not only affect projects directly, but also indirectly through European regulations. Gerrit points to new directives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Ecodesign Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which require companies to work more sustainably and report on this transparently. "C2C and Madaster complement each other perfectly and help companies meet these requirements and make sustainable choices," Gerrit says. "This is especially important in facade construction, where glass plays a key role in the lifespan and sustainability of buildings. With our Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver certification, Pilkington Netherlands is in an excellent position to meet these regulations and further reduce its carbon footprint."

Circular Facade Economy 

Also within the Circular Facade Economy Foundation (CGE), an initiative of five facade industry trade associations and the government, Pilkington is actively contributing to the creation of a circular economy in the construction sector. On behalf of the glass industry, Vlakglas Recycling Nederland (VRN) is also a participant in this initiative. "With our Cradle to Cradle Certified®-certified products and the use of a materials passport that will be registered in Madaster, we are contributing to circular facade construction without loss of quality," said Gerrit.

The CGE encourages products, such as glass and window frames, to be designed for reuse or high-quality recycling. The Cradle to Cradle Certified® certification guarantees that these materials are healthy and circular, while Madaster ensures the traceability and management of these materials throughout their life cycle, which is crucial to the circular ambitions of both the Netherlands and Europe.

Toward a circular future in facade construction 

Pilkington Netherlands is working with partners within the Circular Facade Economy to create sustainable solutions. "Our C2C-certified glass products and the integration with Madaster are essential steps towards a circular building sector," concludes Gerrit. "In this way, we are helping to build a future in which facades not only last longer, but are also circular and reusable."