Advancing facade innovation with low-carbon aluminium and closed-loop recycling
Hydro has been supplying high-quality, responsibly sourced aluminium to RJ Facade Systems for over a decade, supporting their commitment to sustainability and UK-based manufacturing. In 2021, RJ Facade Systems took a significant step by transitioning from imported facade systems to a fully UK-designed and manufactured range, relying on Hydro’s aluminium extrusions.
Today, 100% of RJ Facade Systems’ products incorporate aluminium extruded by Hydro, improving supply chain efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring a high level of service to their customers.
Enhancing efficiency with Hydro’s 4.0 low-carbon aluminium
Sustainability has always been a key consideration in our partnership, and in 2023, RJ Facade Systems made the transition from 6.0 aluminium to Hydro’s 4.0 low-carbon aluminium. This transition, completed over a three-month period, has now been in effect for over a year, supporting RJ’s efforts to lower environmental impact.
Hydro’s 4.0 aluminium is produced using 44% post-consumer recycled aluminium, making it a lower-carbon option suitable for facade systems. While Hydro offers aluminium with an even lower carbon footprint (3.0 and 2.0), 4.0 is currently the best solution for facade applications that require 6063 T6 aluminium. By integrating recycled aluminium, the energy required for production is reduced to just 5% of that needed for primary aluminium, leading to a tangible reduction in CO2 emissions within the manufacturing process.
Closing the loop: The Hydro & RJ Facades recycling scheme
Building on the shared commitment to responsible material use, Hydro and RJ Facade Systems launched a dedicated aluminium recycling scheme in 2024. This initiative ensures that post-consumer aluminium scrap, such as cladding and structural components, is collected, recycled, and reintroduced into the supply chain, reducing waste and promoting circular material use. Additionally, manufacturing offcuts and unused billet are also recycled, further improving resource efficiency.
The first project trialing this scheme covered 850m², effectively reclaiming aluminium from flashings and subframes. While there were some logistical challenges, such as limited onsite storage, the initiative demonstrated the feasibility of closed-loop recycling.
A partnership for the future
Hydro and RJ Facade Systems continue to develop practical solutions for more sustainable facade manufacturing. Through innovation in aluminium production and recycling initiatives, our collaboration is supporting efforts to create a more responsible built environment. By taking measurable steps to reduce waste and emissions, this partnership demonstrates commitment to a long-term approach to greener solutions based on transparency and tangible impact.