Creating a more sustainable
future for urban development
©WICONA/Mediashots
This is due partly to targets set by large supranational organisations like the European Commission. The 2008 Waste Framework Directive stipulated, for example, that by 2020, 70% of all construction waste must be recycled – a guideline which was issued in 1975 and was significantly amended in 1991 and 2006.
In the construction industry, aluminium has a recycling rate of over 90%. That means that in Germany, for example, more than 100,000 tonnes of aluminium are acquired annually from the demolition of buildings.
Aluminium solutions are among the most durable products in the building envelope. Aluminium’s durability is in part due to its corrosion-resistant properties.
Higher sales value
There are many indications that buyers are gravitating towards “green homes”. The use of recycled end-of-life aluminium is just one of many factors that architects and builders are incorporating into their planning. One third of all buyers today want a sustainable home. As a result, aluminium is a viable option for long-term projects. In Germany, the number of sustainable buildings and districts has increased by 30% between 2016 and 2017.
WICONA has set itself the task of passing this benefit on to architects, planners, fabricators and end customers such as investors and enabling a more sustainable future for the construction industry. WICONA’s commitment to the use of recycled end-of-life materials is accompanied by further WICONA objectives on the issues of sustainability of the company and our products, such as the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certification.
Certified sustainable
WICONA believes it is also important to use measures like C2C certification to improve all aspects of modern corporate management: Compatibility of the materials used, recycling of materials, use of renewable energy sources, complying with water quality standards in production and social fairness in the manufacturing process. WICONA has already achieved “SILVER” certification and is now taking the next step to C2C “GOLD”. Together with our suppliers.
The Cradle-to-Cradle Institute encourages manufacturers to differentiate how they consider the environmental impact of their products. This includes further training with regard to product composition, information about which resources are needed for product manufacture and what happens to the products after use. Answering these questions is a prerequisite for C2C certification.
HydroCertification accompanies manufacturers through a process of continuous improvement which encourages the recycling of materials. Certification levels are awarded, from Basic, through Bronze, Silver and Gold, right up to Platinum. WICONA was first awarded Bronze in 2017, before achieving Silver certification in 2019 for its window, door and façade solutions. We at WICONA now want to achieve even greater success in sustainability with Gold and, ideally, Platinum certification. There is no contradiction between ecology and economy. They are two sides of the same coin. “Eco” comes from the Greek word for “house” or “household”. Both must be sustainable – in other words, always operated and managed effectively.
In addition, WICONA promotes sustainability by mostly using the aluminium alloy Hydro CIRCAL 75R, with a minimum of 75% end-of-life aluminium from HYDRO, and also with REDUXA for other areas – largely using renewable energy, mainly from primary aluminium produced by hydroelectricity.
Creating even more sustainable building solutions today
Hydro CIRCAL 75 R – 75% end-of-like aluminium is just the beginning. For more information on the benefits of “Urban Mining”, go to www.wicona.com.
