Reducing emissions with better aluminium

Jan 3, 2023

In close cooperation with aluminium supplier Hydro Building Systems (HBS), NorDan UAB in Lithuania reduced their 2022 CO2 emissions by 290 tonnes.

At the factory in Mažeikiai, many NorDan products are made of aluminium. Extruded aluminium profiles are cut there and windows, entrance doors, sliding doors and folding doors are assembled in a variety of designs for projects of all sizes for virtually all of NorDan’s markets.

Green supplier

Despite its long life cycle and good recycling properties, aluminium leaves a significant footprint. “That doesn’t mean that there’s no room for improvement,” says Managing Director Giedrius Žilėnas.

“By replacing 46 tonnes of traditional aluminium with Hydro Circal, we have contributed to reducing the emissions of our products by a total of 290 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. That’s a good contribution, but we still have major ambitions. In 2022 alone this proportion will increase significantly,” he says.

Circal is a type of aluminium that contains a higher proportion of post-consumer recycled material. Such material can comprise everything from soda cans to old windows and auto parts. The significant emission benefits lie in giving waste a new life. With a minimum of 75 per cent recycled aluminium, there is a significant reduction in emissions associated with activities relating to the extraction of aluminium from nature.

Sustainability on the agenda

In connection with the sustainability component in its ecoDigital Ready strategy, NorDan Lithuania, like all other companies, has made great strides towards a more sustainable approach to operations. Becoming more aware of what is being included in production is an important part of this work.

“We have considerable focus on energy consumption, the use of green energy and waste reduction. But in order to take the major steps for reducing emissions, we are somewhat limited as to what we can do as a production unit and we are dependent on our suppliers,” he says. This is precisely why the collaboration with HBS has been important for strengthening the sustainability profile at the NorDan factory in Lithuania.

“There is an interaction in play whereby the suppliers offer us their most sustainable materials while we also set stricter requirements for what we expect from them in terms of sustainability. Close collaboration is essential for us to be able to contribute to better solutions for everyone,” he says.

A good start

Increased accessibility and recognition for using recycled aluminium in new products is still just a start for Giedrius and the employees at NorDan UAB.

“In the years ahead, it will be more than just price that plays a role in the decisions we make; the footprint of our products will also be important. The importance of sustainable solutions will only continue to increase and will become a new currency when we negotiate with our customers,” he says.

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