We avoid soil sealing and, where this is not otherwise possible, seek to enhance built-up and sealed areas whilst taking biodiversity criteria into account. This includes, for example, green roofs and facades or concepts for rainwater harvesting.

In 2025, we began developing a comprehensive water strategy covering both our own sites and high-risk areas within the supply chain. As part of this process, we are currently assessing which sites are located in areas of high water stress in order to coordinate appropriate measures and transition plans based on this information. The strategy and action planning are scheduled for finalized in 2026. Until then, the risks will be continuously monitored and transparently addressed as part of our annual sustainability reporting.

Our business activities are not directly related to oceans or seas. However, indirect impacts on marine ecosystems arise from emissions and discharges along the value chain – for example, during transport, energy use or raw material extraction. We address these aspects as part of our overarching environmental and climate strategy, in particular through measures to reduce CO₂ emissions, waste and water-related environmental impacts. 

We use wood only to a limited extent. However, we are aware that deforestation along global supply chains is a relevant sustainability issue. Against this background, the issue forms part of our strategic considerations regarding the management of sustainability aspects relating to biodiversity and water.  In our own material procurement, we ensure that wood and paper products come from responsible sources. Where possible, we use certified materials (e.g. FSC- or PEFC-certified). 

In 2025, 95 of our aluminum systems were certified  to the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) standard: of these, 80 systems achieved ‘Silver’ status and 15 ‘Bronze’ status. Certification required a systematic assessment of the ingredients used in the “material health” category. For the “Silver” level, around 95 per cent of the substances used in each system were recorded, assessed and classified as harmless in terms of their impact on people and the environment.

To learn more about the materials not yet been assessed and to demonstrate that our products comply with all limit values set out in the EU Chemicals Regulation (REACH), we began during the reporting period to expand our existing substance assessment beyond the previous C2C scope. In particular, we focused in particular on the ‘SVHC’ (Substances of Very High Concern) class. The REACH Regulation stipulates that products containing more than 0.1 per cent by weight of SVHCs must be specially labelled.

Based on current information, potential SVHC occurrences could arise particularly in hardware components. These are functional metal components with a typical individual weight of between 0.1 and 0.3 kg. Based on preliminary estimates, the potentially affected quantity of substances could be in the low single-digit tonnes range relative to annual sales volumes. A final quantitative assessment is currently being prepared.  

Our PVC products are manufactured exclusively using calcium-zinc stabilizers that are harmless to health. Confirmation was provided that the content of tin and SVHC phthalates, as defined by the DGNB criteria ENV1.2 (2018), was below 0.1 per cent. The cadmium content was below 0.01 per cent.

In our CO₂-optimized material grades BALANCED PVC and RECYCLED PVC, recycled window material was used in the inner core of the PVC profiles where available. Existing stocks may contain lead stabilizers as so-called ‘legacy additives’. The use of these stabilizers was phased out by 2004 as part of a voluntary initiative by European system manufactures; however, an EU-wide ban was not introduced until 2015. The lead compounds are permanently bound within the material, meaning that their use did not result in any restrictions and all relevant REACH requirements were met.