Roto AL Range Achieves Cradle to Cradle Certified® Status
Reinforcing its reputation as a pioneer in the fenestration industry, Roto Window and Door Technology (Roto FTT) is the first hardware manufacturer to achieve Cradle to Cradle Certified® status across its entire portfolio for aluminum Tilt&Turn windows with a eurogroove profile. The Roto AL and Roto AL Designo hardware product ranges have been awarded C2C Certified® Full Scope Bronze certification in accordance with Version 4.1.
The “Full Scope” designation indicates that the certified Roto products are designed with life cycle thinking in mind, meeting strict science-based requirements for Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.
“A product range that is C2C Certified® Full Scope provides a development framework for the entire company,” explains Daniel Zaehringer, Head of Sustainability at Roto FTT. The certificate remains valid for three years, after which recertification requires at least one measurable improvement in any of the five program categories to demonstrate continuous growth. “Roto is constantly working to improve material health, circularity, and supply chain transparency. In the future, we will be assessing progress based on the Cradle to Cradle Certified® standard, among other criteria.”
Cradle to Cradle is a product design concept that regards all materials as resources. Durable goods such as hardware and windows should, at the end of their useful life, be dismantled and reused to manufacture a new product of the same quality, without any downcycling. This is why they are also examined to determine whether they are made from materials that are harmless and safe for people and the environment. The responsible use of vital resources such as water and healthy soil is just as important for the C2C Certified® certification as the fair treatment of people in the supply chain.
“C2C Certified® certificates are important for project work in metal construction,” emphasizes Matthias Nagat, Head of Aluvision Sales and Product Management at Roto FTT. “Roto is the first hardware manufacturer to offer full support. A C2C Certified® window system offers a genuine competitive advantage in all projects where building certification under LEED or BREEAM is planned.”
Market trends clearly indicate that C2C assessments of construction products are becoming increasingly important. A building that is certified to LEED or BREEAM standards enjoys greater market acceptance amongst tenants and property funds. It offers better prospects for funding and will comply with regulatory requirements for a longer time even as they become more stringent in the future. Builders, investors, and auditors are therefore increasingly looking for construction products whose materials, manufacturing processes, and recycling pathways are transparent and therefore easy to assess.
“Our customers aren’t primarily purchasing sustainability. They’re buying reliability, planning certainty, and easy access to reliable product information,” explains Zaehringer. He is convinced that: “Anyone who uses certified components at an early stage will gain a competitive edge when bidding for projects with high requirements for transparency and forward-looking materials strategies.”
