Technal and Wicona achieve an even lower carbon footprint for their Hydro Circal 75R aluminum profiles

The joinery and facades ranges TECHNAL and WICONA are continuing their commitments to decarbonization and are taking a new step with their post-consumer recycled aluminum Hydro CIRCAL® 75R. This now displays a reduced carbon footprint of 1,9 kg of CO2e/kg of aluminum, compared to 2,3 kg previously, or 70% less than the European average.

Launched in 2019, Hydro CIRCAL^® 75R is a high quality recycled aluminum, manufactured with a minimum of 75% post-consumer waste. Drawing on the knowledge acquired over recent years, the Norwegian aluminum group Hydro, the only producer to control each stage of the material's life cycle, has achieved a real feat in the field of recycling by further improving the carbon footprint of its alloy. The progress made in the collection, sorting and traceability of post-consumer aluminum waste, as well as the extrusion process, allows TECHNAL and WICONA to manufacture their joinery and facades in Hydro CIRCAL^® 75R with a reduced carbon footprint of 1,9 kg of CO2e/kg of aluminum. Its Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet (FDES) transparently details its performance.

In addition to Hydro CIRCAL 75R, Hydro also offers Hydro CIRCAL 100R, a recycled aluminum containing 100% post-consumer waste. This aluminum offers an even lower carbon footprint, with only 0,5 kilograms of CO2e per kg of aluminum produced. This means that it is possible to manufacture joinery and facade profiles with an almost zero carbon footprint – among the lowest in the world. Currently, Hydro CIRCAL 100R is only offered for specific projects. Thanks to technological advances and advancements in manufacturing processes, Hydro CIRCAL 100R will gradually become more accessible as the company develops urban mining partnerships to further strengthen circularity.

To Lucile Souyri, Sustainable Development Manager at Hydro Building Systems: « Low-carbon innovation and circularity are at the heart of our business strategies. Across TECHNAL and WICONA, we work closely with our suppliers and construction industry partners to find new ways to reduce carbon impact. Post-consumer recycled aluminum Hydro CIRCAL^® is one of the illustrations. We have also halved the carbon impact of the extrusion process compared to the European average, which will automatically reduce the footprint of our products. Other projects are underway, notably on how our end-of-life facades will be dismantled and recycled. And we won't stop there! »