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Terms of engagement with the circular economy


With project teams increasingly pursuing circular economy goals, the more stringent specifiers are looking for clarity on the types of recycled aluminium available. Gareth Evans from Technal UK explains the subtle but important differences in terminology


Photo by Martin Zenker on Unsplash H


ow do you know whether the recycled aluminium systems you’re specifying are made from


aluminium that’s actually been used before or is simply ‘clean’ waste from the production process? More to the point, why should you care?


Aluminium is one of the few materials that keeps its properties after recycling. It can be remelted and used again and again in new products, making it an environmentally friendly metal and sustainable building material.


ADF OCTOBER 2023


However, not all of what is termed ‘aluminium’ is the same – the same goes for ‘recycled content.’ The incorrect use of such terms may lead to confusion by overstating the environmental benefits – with the potential risk of undermining the credibility of the aluminium industry. So, when manufacturers talk about their systems being produced with recycled aluminium content using terms like ‘pre- consumer’ and ‘post-consumer’ scrap metal, it helps to know the difference. It’s a pretty significant one.


The minimum 75% proportion of this post- consumer material (≥ 75% EoL material) must be verified by means of independent certification


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