Embracing Circularity

We turn yesterday´s facades into today´s building envelopes

Graphic illustration combining green trees and a modern glass façade in a circular pattern.
“With 39% of global CO2 emissions and 75% of construction waste still not recovered (landfilled or incinerated),new regulations, taxonomies and laws are pushing for circular construction."
Lucile Souyri

Sustainability Manager at Hydro Building Systems

When circularity meets renovation, it unlocks real value - for businesses, partners, and the entire construction industry.

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Circularity Made Simple

Keeping materials in use for longer

In a traditional construction model, materials are extracted, used and eventually discarded. Circular construction takes a different approach. It focuses on designing buildings and products that can be maintained, reused, refurbished and recycled, keeping valuable materials in circulation for as long as possible.

For aluminium, this means reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions and preserving resources, all while delivering high-performance buildings.

  • 1. Design for Longevity

    Create buildings and systems that are durable, adaptable and easy to maintain, extending their useful life and reducing the need for replacement.

  • 2. Build with Recycled and Low-Carbon Materials

    Specify materials with high post-consumer recycled content, such as Hydro CIRCAL® aluminium, to reduce embodied carbon from the outset.

  • 3. Reduce Waste During Construction

    Minimise waste through efficient manufacturing, careful planning and responsible site practices.

  • 4. Extend the Life of Existing Buildings

    Prioritise renovation and refurbishment wherever possible, preserving existing structures and reducing the environmental impact associated with demolition and new construction.

  • 5. Recover Materials at End of Use

    When a building is renovated or deconstructed, aluminium systems can be removed and collected rather than being sent to landfill.

  • 6. Recycle and Recreate

    Recovered aluminium is recycled into new products with no loss of quality, ready to begin the process again.

Closing the Loop with TECHNAL

Through low-carbon aluminium, dynamic environmental product declarations (EPDs) and our take-back initiatives, TECHNAL helps customers keep materials in use for longer and reduce the environmental impact of their projects.

Because aluminium can be recycled again and again without losing its properties, every renovation project has the potential to become a valuable resource for the future.

Explore TECHNAL's Sustainability Commitment

Learn how our sustainability strategy supports circular construction, decarbonisation and responsible product development.

Discover Hydro CIRCAL aluminium

Recycled Materials

See how high recycled content aluminium can help lower embodied carbon emissions and support circular building design.

Discover Hydro CIRCAL® aluminium

Return Aluminium to the Loop

Are you planning a refurbishment or renovation project? Speak to our team about recovering aluminium systems, reducing waste and supporting a more circular approach to construction.

Return Aluminium to the Loop

We Can Take Back the Scrap of Your Project

Are you ready to embrace circularity? Talk to us about circular project solutions that reduce waste, reuse resources, and deliver long-term value with our sustainable aluminium windows, doors, and facades.

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Circularity in Practice

Delivering Circular Construction in the Real World

Closing the Loop: Strategies for low-carbon, circular renovation

The built environment is under pressure to decarbonise, and renovation is the key. Our new white paper How to Achieve a Circular Renovation, explores practical steps to reduce carbon, recover valuable materials, and future-proof assets.

Discover how circular approaches like selective deconstruction, recycled aluminium Hydro CIRCAL®, and designing for disassembly can cut carbon emissions, lower costs, and enhance building value.

Circularity Insights

Explore expert perspectives, industry guidance and practical resources on circular construction, low-carbon materials and closing the loop across the built environment.

our role as a reliable force in circular renovation

Our Role as a Reliable Force in Circular Renovation

STEP 1: Renovation of Buildings Renovating buildings creates material flows and reuses existing resources. Cities are full of valuable materials, yet 75% of construction waste is unrecycled.

STEP 2: Recover End-of-Life Aluminium Systems We partner with builders to reclaim old aluminium systems. Unlike other materials, aluminium is fully and infinitely recyclablein retaining its properties after each use, making it highly valuable.

STEP 3: Dismantling and Sorting Builders dismantle frames, sorting out aluminium, glazing and EPDM gaskets. We handle the aluminium, while partners recycle the rest. In selling us the aluminium, metal builders work with a circularity manage for seamless logistics and traceability

STEP 4: Shredding & Sorting At HYDRO plants around the world, shredded aluminium is separated from other metals. The right alloys go to the melting plant, while polyamide and EPDM chips are also sorted for recycling.

STEP 5: Remelting Aluminium is remelted, saving 95% of the energy compared to primary production. Hydro CIRCAL 75R reduces CO2 emissions by 85% compared to global averages

STEP 6: Back to Material Manufactured with sustainable operations and a sourcing of recycled materials to close the loop and reduce drastically CO2 footprint

STEP 7: Back to new Aluminium Systems Made with 75% recycled content and recyclable at 95%, demonstrating circular design. They reduce energy consumption, have longer lifespans and are easier to maintain, dismantle, and recycle

STEP 8: Back to Buildings Digital Product IDs enable full traceability, supporting maintenance and recycling. Products meet future needs and help preserve building value

Circularity and Closing the Loop - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Embracing circularity means turning yesterday’s facades into today’s building envelopes by recovering aluminium from existing buildings and re-using it in new windows, doors and facades, instead of sending valuable materials to landfill. This closed-loop approach reduces construction waste in a sector where 75% of construction waste is still unrecovered and helps lower the 39% share of global CO2 emissions linked to the built environment.

  • The circular renovation process follows a clearly defined loop:

    1. Renovation of buildings creates material flows and reuses existing resources
    2. Recovery of end-of-life aluminium systems from old facades, windows, and doors in partnership with contractors and fabricators
    3. Dismantling and sorting on site, separating aluminium from glazing and gaskets
    4. Shredding and sorting at Hydro plants, where aluminium is separated from other metals and polymers
    5. Remelting, which saves 95% of the energy compared with primary aluminium production and enables Hydro CIRCAL® 75R to achieve around 85% lower CO2e emissions than global averages for primary aluminium
    6. Back to material, producing sustainable Hydro CIRCAL® billets
    7. Billets are extruded into new aluminium building systems, made with 75% recycled content and 95% recycled materials, designed for long life, easy maintenance and disassembly
    8. Back to buildings, where TECHNAL products with Digital Product IDs offer full traceability, support maintenance and preserve building value

  • Using aluminium windows, doors and facades made with 75% recycled content and 95% recyclability significantly reduces emboded carbon by cutting demand for primary aluminium and maximising the use of post-consumer scrap. Remelting post-consumer aluminium saves 95% of the energy compared with primary production, and Hydro CIRCAL® reduces CO2e emissions by at least 80% when compared with primary aluminium production, according to independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). In a context where the built environment accounts for 39% of global CO2 emissions, this approach directly supports low-carbon, circular renovation.

  • Following a site audit, TECHNAL and Hydro partner with contractors and fabricators to recover end-of-life aluminium from old windows, facades and doors. Frames are dismantled and sorted on site; aluminium is placed into dedicated container or skips that TECHNAL arranges, while partners can also recycled glazing and EPDM gaskets separately. The aluminium scrap is then transported for sorting, shredding, and remelting in Hydro’s plants. This keeps valuable post-consumer aluminium in the construction industry and avoids downcycling or landfill.

    Please note, acceptance for post-consumer material has a minimum project size and is subject to contract.

  • In this context, a dynamic EPD refers to the Environmental Product Declaration used to document and verify the carbon footprint of TECHNAL products based on individual specifications for projects. These independently verified EPDs confirm the environmental impact of TECHNAL aluminium windows, doors and facade (with or without glazing). This can then be used in ESG reporting and green building certifications such as LEED, BREEAM and VERDE. This transparency helps project teams quantify the benefits of circular renovation strategies.

  • Circular renovation with aluminium helps reduce carbon footprint, improve energy performance, and enhance long-term asset value. By reusing existing structures, integrating recycled materials like Hydro CIRCAL®, and designing facades for disassembly, projects can meet evolving regulations, access environmental certifications and reduce operational energy costs. Such projects may achieve lower emissions, easier financing, higher resale value and a positive impact on corporate reputation, making buildings more resilient to future regulatory and market expectations.

  • Digital Product IDs, such as GeniusID, provide a unique QR code linked to detailed product information, including specifications, components, and environmental data. On circular renovation projects, this enables full traceability of aluminium building systems throughout their life, simplifies maintenance, and supports responsible end-of-life recycling when facades, windows, and doors are eventually replaced. This digital layer underpins “back to buildings” step in the circularity loop and strengthens proof of circular performance for clients and certifiers.

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