For over a year, Mockfjärds, a company that provides installation and replacement services for windows, has been buying, collecting and storing customers' old windows for recycling. Mockfjärds' CEO Mattias Andersson shares more about how the initiative came about and how it has been received by customers.
How does the process work, from the time the installer meets the customer to when the windows become new raw material?
From the consumer's side, we first agree with the customer to replace the windows, and then we buy the customer's old windows to recycle them. This means that the installer places the old windows on the same pallets that the new ones were delivered on, according to instructions from Ragn-Sells. The pallets are then picked up by Ragn-Sells, who take them to their facility. There, they separate the glass from the frame and recycle the materials individually.
Why did Mockfjärds take the initiative to recycle customers' old windows?
It all started in the summer of 2022 with a meeting with Ragn-Sells about challenges related to landfill and waste management. That meeting took a completely different turn. We heard about Ragn-Sells' plans for glass recycling and how they thought it would work. Simultaneously, I was in discussions with one of Sweden's largest real estate companies, which had clear goals of becoming climate neutral by 2030 and needed all the help they could get. So, we started deeper discussions with Ragn-Sells as their concept fit very well with our business model and sustainability work. This meant that we no longer needed to go to landfills, and the glass instead became new raw material.
How has this initiative been received by your customers?
It has been well received. We live in a world where every penny counts, especially now with high interest rates, so it was very important for us to find a cost-neutral solution. Now we have a solution that is better in every way and also provides significant commercial value for publicly listed companies that have their own sustainability agendas.
Which building in the world would you like to replace the windows of?
A Scandinavian iconic building, perhaps Turning Torso in Sweden, but the most important thing is where it creates the most value. We buy the customer's old windows and pay more the worse they are in terms of energy efficiency. So, the worse the conditions, the better the window replacement is for the environment. If I could dream freely, I would want to find a rundown old building that is going to be completely renovated where the windows cannot be reused and must be replaced. It doesn’t need to be iconic; it will still be written about because we will lift it from the bottom to the top.
Who would you like to invite to dinner?
Elon Musk. It would be very interesting, exciting, and above all, inspiring to spend a few hours with him and bring home some of his crazy ideas to little Sweden and continue working on them.
Do you have a life rule you live by?
When I started my first company, I learned that those who know the most tend to do the best. So, keep an eye on the world around you, your colleagues, both within the company and in the industry as a whole. This usually leads to good and wise decisions.
Interested in learning more about Mockfjärd’s innovative recycling initiatives? Visit their website for more information and discover how they’re making a difference, one window at a time.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Lucas Rundén
Chief Marketing Officer
WindowGlass Recycling
Email: lucas@windowglass.se
About WindowGlass Recycling Sweden AB: WGR specializes in the development and sale of machines for circular window recycling. Our mission is to provide innovative solutions that promote environmental sustainability and support a circular economy.
For additional information, visit our website at www.windowglass.se or follow us on LinkedIn at WindowGlass Recycling AB.