Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro ASA announced this week the first delivery of 100 percent recycled post-consumer aluminium profiles from its building system brand WICONA to its Innovationsbogen project in southern Germany.
Per the firm, the Hydro CIRCAL 100R aluminium used for the profiles aids in the decarbonization of Europe’s building industry, and the initial delivery reduces carbon dioxide emissions by over 500 metric tons.
WICONA is the first aluminium producer on Earth that delivers aluminium with a near-zero carbon footprint to a European building project.
Eivind Kallevik, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal, said in a related press release that the delivery is a major achievement for the company.
“Covering such a high profile building in Europe with a near-zero aluminium façade is a milestone achievement for Hydro. We are proud to partner with forward leaning customers to lower their carbon footprint. This landmark project in Augsburg, Germany is part of Hydro’s contribution to decarbonize the biggest industries in the world using low-carbon, recycled aluminium.”
Altogether WICONA plans to deliver 85 metric tons of CIRCAL 100R to the project in Augsburg.
Henri Gomez, Senior Vice President Hydro Building Systems, noted the new options the fully-recycled aluminium provides.
“Hydro CIRCAL 100R has provided completely new possibilities for architects and builders to reduce the climate impact of buildings. With 100 percent recycled post-consumer aluminium, we can make another step change and prove that zero-carbon footprint in buildings is possible. It is an important contribution to a fully circular economy.”
“I am proud to say that our recycling organization has embraced the challenge of using complex scrap types. The production milestone was only possible because of our competent workforce and Hydro’s state-of-the-art recycling technology, which includes sorting, shredding and melting technologies,” Kallevik concluded.
Norsk Hydro, which was founded in 1905, financed by the Swedish Wallenberg family and French banks, began its life named Norsk hydro-elektrisk Kvælstofaktieselskab (literally, “Norwegian hydro-electric nitrogen limited”) by Sam Eyde. The Norwegian government owns approximately 40% of the company at the present time. Norsk Hydro is one of the largest aluminium companies in the world, with plants in Rjukan, Raufoss, Vennesla, Karmøy, Høyanger, Årdal, Sunndalsøra, and Holmestrand. Norsk also has several plants abroad.