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Pella: A leader in environmental stewardship

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Pella has long been a trendsetter in protecting the environment. The company practices environmental stewardship in three primary ways: responsible use of natural resources, recycling and creating energy-efficient products.

Pella’s environmental initiatives have been nationally recognized with the “Promise to the Earth” award sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Hammer Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of hazardous chemical release reductions.

No newcomer to conserving natural resources, Pella’s current practices were inspired by Founder Pete Kuyper, who announced more than 50 years ago: “We recognize our responsibilities as stewards of our natural resources and the environment, and will avoid wasteful or harmful disregard of the environmental effects of our operations.”

Natural resources

• Responsible procurement means using sustainable sources and species and working with vendors who practice responsible harvest and replenishment. Pella recognizes the major certification systems: the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Program, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest (PEFC) Council, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
• As a responsible consumer of natural resources, Pella leads the industry in use of wood from sustainable sources. More than 80 percent of its wood comes from vendors certified by organizations that are certified in responsible forestry management.

Recycling

• Pella maximizes recycling opportunities, minimizes waste and pollution, reduces consumption, employs the latest in wood byproduct management and recycling strategies, and ensures that its products are made to last.
• For example, Pella recycles or reuses nearly 99 percent of the sawdust created through manufacturing. It also recycles many materials used in its manufacturing plants and offices, including oil, batteries and solvents. At least 95 percent of the cladding on Pella windows and doors comes from recycled aluminum. Broken and surplus glass gets reused in applications such as reflective coatings for highways, glass containers and more windows, and surplus insect screen is recycled into archery targets.
• Pella Corporation initiated an annual community-wide electronics recycling (e-cycling) event in 2005 honoring Earth Day, encouraging its employees and local residents to safely recycle obsolete electronics such as cellular phones, computers, video cassette recorders, and televisions. Pella partnered with a computer disposal company to process electronic equipment by removing all information from computers before they were recycled or resold.

Energy-efficient products

• As a volunteer partner in the Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR® program, Pella promotes the use of high-efficiency products to help reduce energy usage. Its Low-E insulating glass with argon* helps prevent the transfer of heat and block ultraviolet rays that damange carpeting, fabrics and wall coverings. The construction of many of Pella’s products offers outstanding insulating qualities.
• To ensure product performance and customer satisfaction, the company regularly tests virtually every opening wood window for air infiltration right on the manufacturing line. Pella’s Architect Series® wood casement windows, for example, are six times tighter than the industry’s highest residential standard for air infiltration.
• Pella's Designer Series windows and patio doors with triple-pane glass rate number one for energy efficiency among top national brands.**
• Pella is a member of the Efficient Windows Collaborative and the National Fenestration Rating Council, a non-profit organization providing accurate information to measure and compare energy performance of window, door and skylight products.
• Nationally recognized with the "Promise to the Earth" award sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation and the Hammer Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of hazardous chemical release reductions.

For more information, or to read Pella’s full statement of environmental responsibility, go to www.pella.com/resources/pdf/EnvirCopyFINAL.pdf.

*High-altitude Low-E insulating glass does not contain argon

**Superior NFRC U-values and SHGC ratings

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