From Aluminium to Apiaries
Aluminium, since its commercial debut in the 1880s, has shaped our world in so many ways, in fact, if the metal did not exist, much of what we take for granted today, would never have been possible. Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the Earthâs crust, and makes up 8% of it by parts per million. Once dubbed âthe wonder metalâ for its light weight and high strength, its discovery continues to elevate human progress today.
Aluminium is infinitely recyclable with no loss of characteristics, using just 5% of the original energy to produce aluminium, recycling is well established. With âcleanâ scrap value almost that of new prime aluminium, it is fair to say that we cannot get hold of enough scrap aluminium to meet the current recycling demand. With an estimated total discovered and undiscovered bauxite resources across the globe to be in the region of 55 billion to 75 billion tons we will not run out of new, prime aluminium anytime soon.
So where is the downside? Like all metals, aluminium carries high embodied energy, described today as embodied carbon. This has been historically quoted as high as 20 tonnes of carbon for every tonne of aluminium produced when energy from fossil fuels is used to produce new prime aluminium from bauxite. So aluminium smelters have traditionally been located next to renewable energy resources, such as hydro power for decades in order to use cheap renewable energy sources. Now the industry is looking at hydrogen power to further reduce embodied carbon.
Aluprof are proud to be leading this low-carbon revolution, using a greater recycled content to prime in aluminium can reduce embodied carbon to a very low parameter of 2.79 tCO2e (Tonnes of CO2 equivalent) for low-carbon billets manufactured at the groupâs low-carbon KÄty line at the factory in the southern Polish town of KÄty. These low levels of emissions have been achieved thanks to the use of the companyâs cutting-edge plant for the manufacturing process and the high content of secondary raw materials in the form of recycled aluminium scrap at an average level of 65%. Whilst to some this may seem to still be a high carbon price to pay, consider the carbon savings using a product containing aluminium during its long life span, compared to alternative materials which can create more carbon in their lifetime.
Architects are understandably wanting to specify low-carbon aluminium for future projects but with global aluminium recycling running at about 33% of all aluminium output, to source 65% scrap for specific projects will often mean extended lead times should be catered for. The Aluprof UK field team are always on hand to advise specifiers on what can be achieved for any given project and how further carbon savings can be achieved through the supply chain.
OK, so where do Bees enter the cycle of aluminium production? Many companies in the aluminium supply chain strive to save energy and at the same time protect our fragile environment from climate change. Aluprof, together with their parent company Grupa KÄty, are probably the most forward thinking aluminium company operating out of Poland today. The company has acquired and run their own apiaries and produce honey that goes to the charges of the Grupa KÄty Foundation for the Children of the Podbeskidzie Region. Honey is also handed to employees for dining rooms and used in kitchens of various group companies. Some of the smallest jars are used as corporate gifts for customers. The delicate balance of bees and their environment, reminds our employees of the fragile environment we live in today and ensures that employees continue to strive to improve manufacturing efficiency whilst protecting our own ecosystem.
In 2019 Aluprof released their EPDâs (Environmental Product Declarations) produced by the Polish institute ITB, in accordance with the PN EN 15804 (Construction Product Environmental Declaration) standard and verified in accordance with ISO 14025. These are available to specifiers and customers of Aluprof and are constantly being updated and added to as Aluprof continue to update and improve their systems.
Various Aluprof systems are also now Cradle to Cradle Certified⢠this is a globally recognised measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy. For more than a decade, Cradle to Cradle Certified⢠has been helping companies to innovate and optimise materials and products. Measured against the worldâs most advanced science-based measures that assess the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance.
Grupa KÄty will be celebrating its seventieth anniversary in 2023. As you would expect the Groupâs anniversary is being marked in an exceptional environmental way, with the group planting seventy thousand trees in Poland. The initiative will carbon offset a small portion of the Group companiesâ activities, but together with other initiatives from Grupa KÄty and Aluprof, these are a huge step forward in the direction of sustainability. More information on how the group strive to be at the forefront of our future sustainability can be viewed on the Aluprof website and in particular the companyâs sustainability document âSustainable future with Aluprof'.
Since setting up the Aluprof Office at the Business Design Centre in London, the company has rapidly grown their specification influence in the UK with their high-performance architectural aluminium systems. Further expansion of the companyâs headquarters in Altrincham now provides specifiers with meeting facilities and an extensive showroom of commercial systems to view. Further information is available on the companyâs website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham on 0161 941 4005.
