Activities and vision of EPPA Deutschland e.V.

EPPA Deutschland e.V. strengthens the network of the European association of system manufacturers EPPA ivzw, Brussels. This creates the second national representation alongside EPPA Polska. EPPA Deutschland emerges from the Qualitätsverband Kunststofferzeugnisse which was renamed at the end of 2023. We report here on the changes that the change of name entails and how this Bonn-based institution is preparing for its future tasks.

Qualitätsverband Kunststofferzeugnisse becomes EPPA Deutschland e.V.

As decided at the general assembly meeting in May 2023, the Qualitätsverband Kunststofferzeugnisse (QKE e.V.) changed its name to EPPA Deutschland e.V. at the end of 2023. The QKE, founded in Cologne in 1963, has set up many quality associations over its many years of activity in order to make the quality of quality-assured plastic products verifiable for processors and consumers by means of RAL quality certification. The most recent formation of a quality association took place in 2009 with the spin-off and independence of the RAL Quality Association for PVC-U Window Profile Systems. Since then, the quality association has continued to focus on national and European standardisation, public relations and project work for the European umbrella association EPPA. In future, these tasks will be continued under the name of EPPA Deutschland in order to represent the concerns of the system houses with the same intensity in Germany.

Historically, EPPA ivzw was spun off from the European association EuPC aisbl (European Plastic Converters) in 2012 and successfully established itself in Brussels as a legally independent organisation representing the interests of system houses. The aim was to deal with topics relevant to the industry, and in particular PVC windows, in direct contact with the European Commission.

Activities of EPPA Deutschland e.V.

The current discussion about CO2 emissions, life cycle assessments and potential recycling quotas, to name just a few of the top issues, shows that the representation of interests for durable plastic products is particularly necessary in the construction sector. Although the focus is still on answering questions relating to PVC as a material, from now on the building product PVC window will take centre stage.

The primary task is to demonstrate its contribution to achieving climate targets, particularly to political decision-makers at local, state and federal level.

In terms of content, this involves the categorisation of PVC-U windows in the circular economy, the Construction Products Regulation and the planned digital product passport. In addition, there are standardisation mandates from the European Commission, which serve as a regulatory instrument. The topics of renovation and building certification are also at the top of the agenda. Coordinating these tasks with all parties involved is the primary task of EPPA Deutschland.

Interested visitors can find out more about the work of EPPA ivzw and EPPA Deutschland at the FENSTERBAU FRONTALE FORUM on 21 March 2024 in Nuremberg.