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Reimagining Dust Covers: Apollo’s Sustainable Shift from PVC to rPET

Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd has announced a major step forward in its sustainability journey with the introduction of newly redesigned, easier-to-recycle dust covers.

The dust cover, a small but vital component that protects fire detectors during installation and commissioning, has been re-engineered to support Apollo’s wider sustainability strategy centred on People, Planet, and Product – empowering our people, reducing environmental impact, and designing responsibly across the product lifecycle.

Previously manufactured from virgin PVC, the old covers posed recycling challenges – often ending up in landfill or producing harmful emissions when incinerated. Apollo has now switched to a new design made from 97% recycled PET (rPET). This innovation makes the dust covers fully recyclable (PET ‘1’) while cutting the use of virgin plastic by 97%, significantly reducing annual plastic waste.

“This is a small component with a big signal. Our move to rPET turns a necessary site accessory into a circular choice, aligns with UK plastic policy, and proves how our Product pillar converts strategy into everyday decisions. It’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about setting the pace for sustainable product design and showing how innovation can shrink our environmental footprint while raising the bar for the industry” – Adil Sardardeen, Sustainability Manager at Apollo.

The switch to rPET was the result of a cross-functional collaboration spanning Apollo’s supply chain, engineering, and compliance teams. Extensive testing has confirmed that rPET performs on par with PVC, delivering the same high standard of protection under real-world conditions.

In addition to improving recyclability, this initiative supports compliance with environmental regulations such as the UK Plastic Packaging Tax, which incentivises recycled content. Apollo’s proactive adoption of rPET goes beyond these requirements, setting a benchmark for the industry.

The redesigned dust covers are part of a wider programme of sustainability initiatives across Apollo, including the rollout of recycled cardboard packaging, the evaluation of recycled polycarbonate alternatives for detectors, and the use of lifecycle assessments to inform product development. In the last few weeks alone, Apollo has achieved EcoVadis Platinum – a recognition of the hard work put in to make sustainability central to every corner of the business.

“These projects reflect Apollo’s commitment to embedding sustainability into everything we do,” adds Adil. “We’re proud to play our part in creating a safer, greener future for our customers and communities.”

For more information: https://www.apollo-fire.co.uk/