VELUX Sustainability
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Approach and progress
Climate and nature
Circular business
Responsible business
Circular business

Packaging and waste

Circular thinking in practice

As part of our ambition to increase circularity in our business, we are working actively to reduce production waste across all our sites. We are also phasing out plastic in our packaging and cutting production waste.
VELUX roof window packaged in a cardboard box, ready for transport.

Working towards zero plastic in our packaging

We are working to remove all plastic from our packaging and make it 100% recyclable by 2030.

 

Throughout the VELUX Group, we are transitioning to single-material, recyclable, plastic-free packaging. This new packaging is designed to deliver high levels of protection and can be disposed of in one waste stream for recycling. This means European installers can now dispose of all packaging in one waste stream, which saves time and increases convenience. 

Overcoming challenges and demands

Although it sounds simple, transitioning from plastic to paper-based packaging presents a variety of challenges.

The main challenge is that the paper-based packaging has to deliver the same level of protection and performance as the previous EPS (expanded polystyrene) packaging. To create the strength needed to protect the window during transport and when in storage, we tested various paper-based materials extensively. These tests showed that a paper-based material with honeycomb panels could withstand stacking pressure, knocks and blows, as well as humidity and temperature changes.

The vast majority of our residential roof window products in Europe are now packaged in paper-based packaging, which has resulted in more than 400 tonnes less plastic packaging sent to customers in 2024 compared to 2021.

Stacks of cardboard boxes on pallets in a warehouse setting.

Zero production waste to landfill

As part of our ambition to increase circularity in our business, we are working actively to reduce production waste. By 2030, we aim to send zero production waste to landfill and reduce absolute hazardous production waste by 50% compared to 2020. In order to meet our ambitious target, we will continue to implement waste reduction initiatives, increase best practice sharing between production sites and partner with waste management companies.

Case story: Keeping waste out of landfills in the US

Over the past few years, the VELUX Greenwood site in South Carolina has focused on reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. In 2023, this has resulted in an impressive reduction in landfilled waste of over 40% since 2022.
Read about the waste reduction initiative
Interior of a factory hall with industrial equipment and storage areas.

Working with partners and suppliers

In the VELUX Group, 98% of our carbon footprint relates to Scope 3 emissions and comes from outside our own operations, the majority from the materials used in our products. To achieve our emission reduction goals, we therefore must work closely with our partners and suppliers.
Read more about our partnerships
Worker's hands positioning metal sheet in bending machine, close-up view.