Embracing Circularity

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.