Hydro CIRCAL recycled aluminium

Fulfilling the deeply entrenched idea of sustainability in a unique way, is the use of recycled aluminium from Hydro. Hydro is pushing the boundaries for low carbon aluminium and use of post-consumer scrap to create recycled alloys and products. The Hydro plant in Dormagen, Germany has developed the technology to efficiently sort and separate aluminium from other metals and directs each one for the correct recycling process. This system allows aluminium with the right alloy to be sent to Hydro's melting plants.

Using durable and recyclable materials with a low carbon footprint, will contribute to reducing global emissions and create products for a more circular economy. Hydro CIRCAL is a range of prime quality aluminium that contains a minimum of 75% recycled, post-consumer scrap. Hydro CIRCAL has a carbon footprint among the lowest in the world: 1.9 kg CO2 per kilo of aluminium, 78% less than the European average, certified by an independent third party (DNV-GL) and provided with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).  

Building with vision means taking the future seriously. And bearing in mind that our resources are finite. We are absolutely convinced that urban development is inconceivable without the sustainable reuse of materials. 

We are demonstrating our focus on sustainability by using Hydro CIRCAL for our system solutions, one of the most sustainable aluminium alloys in our sector. Hydro CIRCAL is a range of prime quality aluminium made with a minimum of 75% recycled end-of-life aluminium (post-consumer scrap), like façades and windows that have been removed from buildings and fully recycled. 

360° life cycle – a win-win situation 

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable. Its quality and material properties are never lost. Furthermore, melting down end-of-life aluminium uses just 5 % of the energy required for primary aluminium production. So, the higher recycled content of post-consumer scrap, the better it is for our cities and the environment.

Thanks to our system solutions using Hydro CIRCAL, aluminium scrap is recycled back into the production cycle. We call this process of reclaiming materials ‘urban mining’. It saves primary aluminium resources and reduces the amount of waste in our cities. Hydro CIRCAL pushes for a more circular economy in order to reduce waste and reuse materials. Circularity, contrary to the linear economy (characterized by the take-make-waste model) aims at decreasing our use of finite resources. Circularity is also a key-pathway for the European Union’s target to be climate-neutral by 2050. 

Designing responsible products that are easily reusable, dismountable and recyclable.

¹ WGBC (2019). Op. cit.
² Compared to the average CO2 emissions of aluminium used in Europe (8.6 kg of CO2 per kilo of aluminium – European Aluminium Association study, 2018)
³ 1 façade = 12 kg/m² aluminium (average); 1 building project = 5000 m² façade surface; 5000 m² * 12 kg aluminium = 60,000 kg aluminium used in 1 building project; 60,000 kg of primary aluminium * 8,6 kg CO2 (european average) = 516,000 kg of CO2 emissions; 60,000 kg of Hydro CIRCAL 75R aluminium * 1,9 kg CO2 (emissions of Hydro CIRCAL) = 114,000 kg of CO2 emissions; By using our end-of-life alumnium Hydro CIRCAL 75R, you're able to save 402,000 kg of CO2 emissions.