our approach
Sustainability at Lustalux
Improving spaces without automatically replacing what is already there.
Keep what works. Improve what can be improved. Replace only when replacement is the right answer.
The built environment does not always need another new product.
Sometimes the most appropriate solution is to keep an existing piece of glass, door, panel, counter, facade or interior surface and improve what it already does.
That idea sits at the heart of our approach to sustainability.
Lustalux works across window film, architectural film and graphics and signage. Many of the problems we are asked to solve involve buildings and surfaces that already exist.
Where the existing asset is suitable, our first question is not simply "what can we replace it with?"
It is:
"Can we make better use of what is already there?"
01
Retain before replace
Replacement can involve removing an existing material, manufacturing a new one, transporting it to site and disposing of what came before it.
Film can sometimes provide another route.
Architectural film can give suitable doors, counters, panels, furniture, cladding and other surfaces a completely different finish while retaining the underlying substrate. Facade wrapping is one example, where existing cladding remains suitable.
Decorative, privacy and reeded films can transform suitable existing glass without changing the glazing simply to achieve a different appearance or level of privacy.
This does not mean refurbishment is automatically the most sustainable solution in every situation. Condition, performance, lifespan, material specification and the requirements of the building all matter.
We assess those requirements as part of the specification.
02
Improve the performance of existing buildings
Sustainability is not only about what goes into a building. It is also about how that building performs during its life.
Correctly specified solar control window film can reduce solar heat gain through existing glazing, helping to manage overheating and potentially reducing the demand placed on mechanical cooling.
The result depends on the building, glazing, orientation, film specification and how the space is operated, so we do not apply universal energy or carbon savings to every installation.
Where performance matters, we specify against the individual project and use relevant manufacturer data and technical information to support the recommendation.
03
Design for a longer useful life
The environmental impact of a product cannot be separated from how long it remains useful.
We therefore consider durability, suitability and maintainability alongside appearance.
A film that is inappropriate for the substrate or environment and needs premature replacement is not a good specification.
Our project teams assess the application, substrate, location and required performance so that the selected system is appropriate for the job it is being asked to do.
04
Specify what is actually needed
More is not automatically better.
The role of our specification team is to understand the problem first and then recommend an appropriate solution.
That can mean selecting the correct solar performance rather than simply the darkest film available, deciding whether existing glazing can be retained, assessing whether a surface is suitable for architectural film or advising when film is not the appropriate solution.
Good specification can help avoid unnecessary work, unsuitable materials and premature replacement.
05
Evidence before environmental claims
We want customers, architects, contractors and facilities teams to be able to trust what we say.
That means we do not want to rely on vague terms such as "green", "eco friendly" or "zero impact".
Where we make a specific environmental or performance claim, our aim is to be clear about what the claim relates to and the evidence behind it.
Product performance can vary between films. Project outcomes can vary between buildings. A claim applying to one product should not automatically be assumed to apply to every product we supply.
As better environmental information becomes available from our manufacturers, suppliers and our own operations, we will use that information to make our reporting more useful and more specific.
06
How we use evidence
When we publish a performance or environmental figure, we want it to be clear what that figure relates to. Product performance should be supported by relevant manufacturer data, while project results should be based on information from the individual installation. We do not apply the result from one product or project to every Lustalux installation.
As our project data improves, we will publish more measured information where it can be supported by evidence.
project records
Evidence from our projects
These figures come from individual project records. They are not carbon savings, landfill avoided or a score applied to every Lustalux installation.
07
Our own impact
Our responsibility does not end with the products we install.
We are continuing to examine the environmental impact of our own operations, including material use, waste, procurement, transport and the way projects are planned and delivered.
We want our future environmental targets to be measurable and meaningful rather than simply sounding ambitious.
As our measurement develops, we will publish specific information and progress that can be supported by evidence.
08
Sustainability in your project
Every project is different.
If environmental performance is an important part of your brief, tell us at the start.
Our team can consider the retention of existing materials, alternative refurbishment approaches, applicable product information, building performance requirements, durability and project specific documentation as part of the specification process.
next step
Planning a refurbishment?
Before automatically replacing existing glass, surfaces or finishes, speak to our team about whether there is another approach.
discuss your project with our team