Aluminium has many advantages, but did you know that it is 100% recyclable? In fact: you can recycle aluminium infinitely. So that’s what Reynaers Aluminium does with its aluminium door and window profiles. They keep on turning them into new profiles. Again and again. A perfect example of circularity.

Yes, aluminium is strong, light and extremely durable. And it is 100% recyclable. Unlike many other materials, aluminium does not lose its characteristics in the recycling process. That means you can recycle it infinitely without losing quality.

Lower energy consumption for recycling

Recycling aluminium requires only 5% of the energy needed for the production of primary aluminium. This means that 8 tonnes of CO2 emissions per tonne of aluminium are avoided each time the aluminium is recycled. More importantly, studies show that the collection rates of aluminium during the demolition phase of a building are very high. It varies between 92% and 98%, which means that almost no aluminium is lost after its use phase. This ensures the availability of raw materials and energy savings for the benefit of future generations.

Discover in this video how Reynaers Aluminium turns old aluminium windows into new ones, again and again:

The life cycle of aluminium windows and doors
Aluminium is extremely durable. The life cycle of aluminium windows and doors averages over 40 years, but life cycles of over 60 years are no exception.

Innovative ways to improve the recyclability of aluminium

Due to the long life cycle of aluminium in many applications, the aluminium scrap currently available only covers 40% of the world’s demand for aluminium. In the future, this percentage will grow due to, among other things, more renovation of old buildings with aluminium windows and doors. This is a worldwide trend. Although we would like to see a percentage increase, this is currently unrealistic due to the current lack of scrap. Technically it is feasible to recycle up to 80%, the increase in recycled content will not affect the overall environmental impact, as all available aluminium scrap is being recycled to the maximum extent. It is all about balance.

That doesn’t mean we don’t need to focus on the recyclability of aluminium. On the contrary. They are constantly researching new ways to improve the recyclability of their products, ensuring quality. This allows us to close the aluminium cycle, recycling old window profiles and creating new ones endlessly. The latest example of circularity.