Aluminum joinery is becoming an increasingly popular solution in modern construction, not only due to its aesthetics and durability, but also to the growing importance of environmental aspects. In the era of sustainable development, not only the origin of raw materials becomes important, but also their impact on the entire building life cycle. Although energy-intensive in production, aluminum is a fully recyclable material, and its properties allow for a significant increase in the energy efficiency of facilities. This study discusses the impact of aluminum on the natural environment in relation to its use in window, door and facade joinery.

1. Introduction

Today, sustainable construction is not only a trend, but a necessity resulting from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of natural resources. Aluminum joinery, used primarily in commercial buildings and modern residential investments, plays an important role in achieving these goals. Aluminum, as a construction material, enables the creation of large-area glazed facades, while ensuring durability, corrosion resistance and low maintenance costs. These properties make aluminum joinery fit perfectly into the idea of sustainable development [1].

• Properties of aluminum in the context of construction joinery

Aluminum is characterized by high strength at low weight, which allows the design of slim but stable window, door and facade structures. Additionally, thanks to their natural resistance to weather conditions, aluminum profiles do not require frequent renovation or maintenance, which translates into lower resource consumption in the product life cycle. Aluminum joinery can also be combined with thermal breaks and modern glazing technologies, which significantly improves the insulating parameters of the partition [2]. As a result, buildings equipped with aluminum systems use less energy for heating and cooling, which reduces their carbon footprint [3].

• Primary production and environmental impact

Primary production of aluminum remains an energy-intensive and emission-intensive process. The extraction of bauxite ore, its processing into alumina and electrolysis lead to significant CO₂ – emissions on average 11.5 tonnes per tonne of finished metal [4]. Bauxite mining is also associated with environmental degradation and the production of industrial waste such as red sludge. Therefore, there is an increasing emphasis on reducing the use of primary aluminum in the construction sector in favor of recycled materials [5].

• Aluminum recycling in window and door joinery

The properties of aluminum enable it to be remelted many times without loss of quality. In practice, this means that demolition profiles or production residues can be successfully processed and reused. Recycling aluminium consumes only about 5% of the energy required for primary production, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by up to 95% [1]. In Poland, more and more aluminum joinery manufacturers invest in material recovery systems and implement circular models in which waste from production is immediately recycled [6]. This reduces the environmental impact of the entire industry, and products gain a competitive advantage as more sustainable.

• Challenges and innovations in the aluminum joinery industry

While aluminum recycling and its use in construction have significant environmental benefits, the industry still faces numerous challenges. One of them is to ensure tightness and appropriate insulating parameters in – aluminum structures, which are particularly important in passive and energy-saving buildings. Manufacturers respond to these needs by developing profile systems with thermal breaks, reflective coatings and smart glass. At the same time, the education of investors and designers plays an important role, as they increasingly use certified, ecological solutions. It is also worth emphasizing the development of aluminum with a reduced carbon footprint, the so-called „green aluminum”, which is created using renewable energy [7].

• Summary

Aluminum joinery has great potential for sustainable development. Although aluminum production involves significant environmental costs, its recyclability, durability and energy efficiency in construction applications make it the material of the future. The use of aluminum in modern window, door and facade systems not only improves the comfort of use of buildings, but also fits into the strategy of reducing emissions and better resource management. Supporting technological innovations and implementing circular economy models throughout the supply chain remain crucial.

Bibliography

• European Aluminum. (2022). Circular Aluminum Action Plan. https://european-aluminium.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/european-aluminium-circular-aluminium-action-plan.pdf
• Builder Poland. (2019). The use of aluminum in energy-saving construction. https://builderpolska.pl/2019/04/29/wykorzystanie-aluminium-w-energooszczednym-budownictwie/
• Bien, J. (2021). Aluminum as a sustainable material in construction. „Civil Engineer”, 9(281), pp. 36–39.
• International Aluminum Institute. (2023). Aluminum Industry Greenhouse Gas Initiative Dashboard. https://international-aluminium.org/emissions-dashboard/
• International Aluminum Institute. (2022). Sustainable Bauxite Residue Management Guidance. https://international-aluminium.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/BRManagementGuidance.pdf
• Aluprof SA (2023). Sustainable future with Aluprof. https://aluprof.eu/files/news_files/zrownowazona_przyszlosc_aluprof_pl.pdf
• Aluminum recycling: process, benefits and its role in construction. Aluprof Blog. https://aluprof.com/blog/recykling-aluminium-proces-korzysci-i-jego-rola-w-budownictwie