In 1975, we introduced our first self-formulated raw material. In the same year, we also launched the first insulating cable tray, which was highly resistant and durable. Even back then, almost 50 years ago, at Unex we already sensed the importance of finding ways to control the entire life cycle of our solutions, from the base materials to the use of our products.
Today, under the new paradigm of sustainability, the recycling economy has become a central issue. At the same time, bad practices such as greenwashing or challenges such as new environmental declarations demand more than ever the utmost rigour.
Therefore, it is important for us to share with you what we have been putting into practice for at least five years due to the increasing environmental demands of users: we are the first and, to date, only Spanish manufacturer of insulating cable trays that are made from 100% recycled raw material as the base material.
This is the U48X raw material, which is made from a 100% recycled, halogen-free thermoplastic component. Its use represents a real step forward in the innovation of insulating cable trays – at present, the Insulating Cable Tray 66, the Insulating Cable Ladder Tray 67, and other products, such as the Floor trunking 74.
Lifecycle of Unex solutions
At Unex, our corporate purpose is to work towards a safer, more humane, and more sustainable world. This global approach leads us to strive for excellence and, consequently, leadership in different areas of our organisation, as, for example, in the life cycle of our solutions.
Thus, in 2006, we were the first European cable management system manufacturer to comply with the RoHS Directive. This was not mandatory for most of our products at the time. This directive limits at source certain substances used in industry that appear in the environment and create serious health and cost problems regarding the disposal of toxic waste.
Material waste is recycled in our manufacturing process, and we have a closed-loop system for the water used in production. In addition, all our production sites are certified in accordance with the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system.
At the distribution level, in recent years we have reduced single-use plastics and increased the use of recycled and FSC-certified cardboard in packaging.
In terms of the usage of our products, we have proven their durability, for example, in installations that have had a service life of more than 25 years. In addition, Unex cable management systems do not require earthing, thus reducing the need for extra materials. Related to this, our products are surface-mounted – saving energy and resources.
At the end of life of Unex products, our solutions are technically recyclable, and 90% of our products are monomaterials, which facilitates sorting for recycling by users.
The road ahead
At Unex, sustainability is not a label we put on our products, but a commitment that was born out of our business philosophy several decades ago. We know that the concept of sustainability is multifaceted and complex, encompassing a wide range of environmental, social, and economic considerations. For this reason, we strive to be transparent in everything we do.
We continue to work carefully on our actions, without making statements that may be ambiguous or misleading, and knowing that there is still a long way to go. All our quality marks, approvals, and environmental declarations can be reviewed in our product data sheets.
At Unex, we work every day to provide safer and more reliable solutions for industrial sectors worldwide. If you have a project where you need a tray made from a raw material with 100% recycled thermoplastic component, then...
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