Jeremy Phillips, group chairman of CDW Systems, says that with a focus on the Future Homes Standard in 2025, and the journey to net zero-carbon by 2050, aluminium will have an even bigger part to play in the fenestration sector.
There’s absolutely no doubt we are seeing a shift towards greener, more thermally efficient commercial products.
It was bound to happen, and will continue as we zoom towards 2025, the next big focus for the industry.
Main contractors and installers are becoming more responsible and as we move towards 2025, questions around sustainability will get asked more and more.
Aluminium to take advantage
As an industry, we don’t push the green credentials of aluminium enough and systems companies could do a lot more around promoting them, particularly as it will play an increasingly significant role as a building material as we head towards a greener future.
Arguably the most sustainable building material in the world, not only can it be recycled back into high quality aluminium, but the recycling process saves 95% of the energy required to produce aluminium from raw materials.
Highly resistant to rust and the corrosion caused by modern industrial pollutants, aluminium requires very little long-term maintenance, with the life span of aluminium products measured in decades rather than years. And being light weight, aluminium is easy to handle which reduces the environmental impact and cost of transportation.
Manufacturing responsibility
With more attention on sustainability and green credentials, as a manufacturing business, our processes are under a lot more scrutiny now.
It’s not just about materials and recycling but also the energy use both through manufacturing and reduction in energy consumption. We are contributing towards a greener and more sustainable future.
We use Circal 75R from our main profile supplier Technal UK (Hydro Building Systems) which is totally extruded from recycled material.
Technal UK enables us to provide our customers with a viable sustainable option and using Hydro’s high quality 75% recycled aluminium profiles has helped us save 378 tonnes of CO2 emissions which contributes towards reducing our carbon footprint and reinforces the sustainability credentials of aluminium.
We are also looking at more efficient ways that both our factory waste and post-consumer waste can be recycled.
Looking ahead
Product life cycles are moving much more quickly now, and products are being taken to the nth degree to meet new regulations.
U-values of 0.8 are coming and that will be challenging. Legislation is going to move very quickly for net zero and the industry will be pushed until we hit that.
And with the move towards more thermally efficient products, energy efficient technology and green product lines will drive the market in design and innovation.
As the industry improves the energy efficiency of its products and the recycling and sustainability of them, and with important targets to hit in 2025 and 2050, it will increasingly turn to aluminium for the best chance to meet them.
