Spain’s First Housing Development with 100% Recycled Aluminium
Aedas Homes, a renowned real estate developer, has announced the construction of the first housing development in Spain using 100% post-consumer recycled aluminium. This initiative is in collaboration with Technal, a company that has been utilizing 75% post-consumer recycled aluminium for several years.
Soul Marbella Sunshine: A Sustainable Housing Development
The recycled aluminium will be used in the Soul Marbella Sunshine development, a project consisting of 50 homes with two, three, and four bedrooms. The sizes of these homes range from 180 to 420 square meters. The recycled aluminium will be specifically used in the profiles of the façade joinery.
Aedas Homes’ Commitment to Carbon Neutrality
Luis García Malo de Molina, the Operations Director of Aedas Homes, has stated that this initiative is a significant step towards the company’s goal of neutralizing 50% of the carbon footprint of its developments by 2030. This is part of their 2021/23 ESG Plan, which includes promoting the use of environmentally-friendly materials.
Introducing Circal: The World’s First Certified 100% Recycled Aluminium
The recycled aluminium, named Circal, is provided by Technal, a brand within the multinational group Hydro Building Systems. Circal is the world’s first certified 100% recycled aluminium and introduces a new manufacturing process in Spain.
The Benefits of Using Recycled Aluminium
Aedas Homes has highlighted three main advantages of using recycled aluminium. Firstly, it reduces CO2 emissions by 95% compared to aluminium produced in Europe and by 40 times compared to aluminium imported from China. Secondly, it offers the same quality as primary aluminium. Lastly, its production requires low energy use.
Reducing Carbon Footprint with Sustainable Materials
Ferran Xipell, Technal’s director in Spain, has stated that this project signifies a turning point in the development sector. It reinforces Technal’s social commitments by prioritizing the use of sustainable and circular materials with a very low carbon footprint to combat climate change.
The Infinite Recyclability of Aluminium
According to the Hydro Building System Group subsidiary, aluminium can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any properties. This makes it an excellent opportunity for the construction sector to reaffirm its commitment to caring for the planet, considering that this sector produces around 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions.
The Concept of Urban Mining
Technal extracts its aluminium from buildings that are rehabilitated or demolished once their life cycle is over and reintroduces it as a raw material. This process is referred to as “urban mining”. It is noteworthy that post-consumer aluminium in circulation today was generated at the end of the 19th century.
