Why It Matters to Sidey
Sustainability matters to Sidey because we recognise our responsibility to protect the environment, support communities, and ensure long-term economic resilience. It’s not just about minimizing harm - it's about creating positive impact. Our operations are aligned with a wider sustainability agenda through practices like reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, sourcing responsibly, and investing in renewable energy and circular solutions. By embedding sustainability into every level of our business, we contribute to global goals like climate action, resource efficiency, and social equality, while also building a more resilient and future-ready organisation.
The Fabric-First Approach:
Efficiency Before Generation
One of the most effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions is adopting a fabric-first approach. This means prioritising thermal performance, airtightness, and overall energy efficiency in buildings before integrating renewable energy solutions.
In Scotland, it's estimated that up to 20% of a property's heat is lost through inefficient windows and doors. In Sweden (which is where our parent company, Inwido, is located) that figure can reach 35%. Regardless of the exact percentage, it's clear that windows and doors play a crucial role in minimising heat loss. Overlooking them undermines the effectiveness of other retrofit measures.
Reduce First, Then Renew
Rather than generating more energy to offset inefficiencies, even from renewable sources, the smarter approach is to reduce the need for energy in the first place. That’s the essence of the fabric-first principle.
The Case for PVC-u: A Circular, Sustainable Solution
According to the BRE Green Guide, high-quality PVC-u windows have an A or A+ rating and a service life of 30 to 40 years. But the sustainability benefits go even further:
✓ PVC-u can be recycled up to 10 times without significant degradation.
✓ This means a single PVC window could have a material lifespan of 300–400 years.
This extraordinary durability and recyclability make PVC-u a sustainable material choice that aligns perfectly with the goals of a circular economy.
Circularity Across Our Operations
At Sidey, we don't just talk about sustainability - we build it into everything we do:
Post-Industrial Waste is Reused or Recycled
Manufacturing Waste is Reused or Recycled
Post-Consumer Waste is Reused or Recycled
✓ 100% of our post-industrial waste is reused or recycled.
✓ 97% of our manufacturing waste is reused or recycled.
✓ 96.5% of our post-consumer waste is reused or recycled.
We continually invest in circular systems that reduce consumption, maximise reuse, and prioritise recycling. Most of our products are installed in existing buildings, helping drive down emissions across the built environment.
Science-Based Targets: Measureable, Meaningful Reductions
As part of the Inwido group, we are committed to
science-based climate action through the Science Based
Targets initiative (SBTi). This involves:
- Measuring our current greenhouse gas emissions
- Setting science-backed targets
- Strategically reducing emissions across our
operations.
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a partnership
between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World
Resources Institute (WRI) and the Worldwide Fund for
Nature (WWF). The SBTi drives ambitious climate action
in the private sector by enabling companies to set
science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction
targets.
Near Term Targets
Long Term Targets
Local Impact, Global Responsibility
Sustainability isn’t just about carbon - it’s about community and economic resilience. Based in Perth, we are within 90 minutes of 90% of Scotland’s population.
By sourcing locally rather than importing from thousands of miles away, we:
✓ Reduce transportation emissions.
✓ Support Scottish jobs.
✓ Contribute to local communities.
Our community commitments include:
✓ Investing in local projects.
✓ Partnering with social enterprises.
✓ Creating apprenticeships and skills development opportunities.
A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future
Through innovation, long-term partnerships, and a holistic approach to sustainability, we are building more than just energy-efficient products - we’re helping build a zero-carbon Scotland that benefits both people and the planet.
