Recycled Materials

Choosing materials for your next window is not only based on aesthetics. The energy efficiency, recyclability and end-of life of aluminium makes it a very attractive material for windows. Systems materials compete on durability, flexibility, aesthetic value, energy efficiency and end-of-life handling, including recyclability. Energy efficiency is key, because the frame of a window can greatly affect its energy efficiency. The polyamide thermal break inside the aluminium window frame gives it the properties to compete with PVC in energy efficiency. Another aspect when choosing material for your window is the durability and replacement frequency. Whether anodised or painted, aluminum requires no specific maintenance, and unlike wood, it will not rot or warp. At the end of its lifetime, it can be recycled into another window without loosing its properties.

Hydro CIRCAL is the low-carbon aluminium alloy of our company, made with at least 75% recycled post-consumer scrap. This means the aluminium is sourced from end-of-life products, such as old facades or windows, which are recovered and recycled. Hydro CIRCAL 75R has a carbon footprint among the lowest in the world: 1.9 kg CO2e per kg of aluminium. Its carbon footprint is 80% of reduction vs the European primary average The production and raw materials in Hydro CIRCAL 75R can be traced on an individual batch level and is delivered with an Environmental Product Declaration and verification statement. With this low carbon aluminium, we can create high-quality, circular, and low-emission building products that meet the highest environmental standards.

Hydro CIRCAL is our range of premium, recycled aluminium, categorized by the percentage of scrap content. Hydro CIRCAL 100R is made from 100% recycled post-consumer scrap. Hydro CIRCAL 100R pushes the boundaries for recycled aluminium with a carbon footprint below 0.5 kilo CO2e per kilo aluminium, which is a reduction of 97% versus the global average for primary aluminium (14.8 kg CO2e per kg of aluminium). Producing Hydro CIRCAL 100R is both complicated and time-consuming, and is therefore currently only available in small, on-demand batches.

Infinitely recyclable

Aluminium can be recycled and made into a new frame, over and over, without losing its properties. Decided edge to aluminium.

PRE-consumer vs. POST-consumer scrap

PRE-consumer arising from the production of aluminium and its alloys, and from the fabrication of semi-fabricated (mill) products and end-products. It is scrap that arises during the manufacturing process. POST-consumer scrap comes from used products like old facades and requires processing before recycling. This type of aluminium scrap must be collected and sorted before it can be remelted at recycling plants. While PRE-consumer scrap is easier to recycle, to collect (and to create!), POST-consumer recycling delivers greater value to the circular economy, as its environmental 'debt' was paid off over 20 years. To understand if your recycled aluminium is better for the environment, you need to know where the material originally comes from. The higher the recycled POST-consumer content in aluminium, the lower the carbon footprint - its CO2 footprint is close to zero, as recycling aluminium only requires 5% of the energy it takes to produce it the first time around.