Sustainability

Sustainability in the building sector should be considered from many different angles, both on building and product level. Our joinery systems are made of one of the most circular materials available, aluminium. It can be recycled an infinite amount of times, without loss of quality. Moreover, as a standard, we provide low carbon building elements, such as low-carbon aluminium profiles and thermal breaks. Reynaers Aluminium is ASI Standard certified, meaning that the aluminium we use in our systems is ethically sourced, with respect for people and our planet. And we participate in local closed-loop systems to limit waste and support end-to-end traceability.

Next to responsible sourcing tactics, we apply Eco Design principles that help minimise the impact of our systems even further. Increasing the lifespan of our solutions and buildings starts at the drawing board by designing out waste, designing in modularity, designing for adaptability and flexibility, designing with disassembly in mind, ... Nothing is left to chance.

Most of our systems come in multiple insulation levels, down to Passive House thermal performance. By focusing on energy efficiency and weather performance, tested and verified in our expansive Technology Centre, we help limit the operational carbon emissions of buildings drastically.

Finally, by providing clear and official documentation, we can help professionals earn green building certificates and navigate sustainable legislation more easily. We are your expert guide that provide the right tools and solutions for your building needs.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an environmental partnership between WWF and the United Nations that sets emission reduction targets for businesses all over the world. Their mission is “to drive ambitious corporate climate action” as they support companies with clear-cut, science-based goals that help them operate successfully in an eco-friendlier way.

In 2022, Reynaers Group established emission reduction targets with 2019 as baseline. Our goals were presented to and approved by the official SBTi Committee in 2023.

In 2022, Reynaers Group established their emission reduction targets with 2019 as baseline.

• An absolute reduction target to reduce our owned direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1 & 2) by -46.2%, compared to our base year 2019. Greener electricity contracts, switching from gas to electricity in our production processes, and an elaborate electric car fleet will help us reach this goal.
• A relative reduction target to reduce our indirect emissions, originating from our value chain (Scope 3), by -55%, compared to our base year 2019. By decarbonizing purchased materials such as aluminium, thermal breaks and steel, we aim to reach this target by 2030.

In 2025, we recorded an absolute reduction of 10.4% for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. For Scope 3 emissions, we even recorded a relative decline of 30.5%. Further steps are being taken or investigated to reach our 2030 goals.

A standard thermal break is made of polyamide - a high-performance polymer - reinforced with glass fiber. That's roughly 75% polyamide and 20% glass fiber. Low-carbon thermal breaks use the same materials, but with one key difference: the polyamide is 100% recycled. So, low-carbon thermal break = 75% polyamide (100% recycled) + 25% glass fibre.

This is what is expected by the EU Green Deal to decarbonise the building sector.

At Reynaers Aluminium, we are convinced you have to consider sustainability from every angle if you want to see the bigger picture. Is the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative the perfect framework to ensure responsible sourcing? Not necessarily. Is it the holy grail to help build a more sustainable future? Probably not.

However, ASI is living proof of a sector-wide commitment to do better. It is an acknowledgement of the industry that when it comes to the material's journey from bauxite mines to the end user, changes need to be made for the planet and people. While it will not solve all problems, ASI certification is definitely a step in the right direction.

Aluminium is one of the most circular materials used in construction. It can be recycled an infinite amount of times, without losing its structural or aesthetic properties. In fact, 95% of aluminium used in buildings is recovered and reintroduced into new products, reducing the need for primary raw materials and lowering the environmental impact of future projects.

However, there's a catch. 75% of aluminium ever produced is currently still in use, which makes recycled aluminium a coveted material that is hard to come by. In Europe, recycled supply will never meet demand, which is why Reynaers Aluminium prefers to take its fair share of the recycled content and mix it with primary aluminium produced with clean energy to create low-carbon aluminium.

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a third-party verified, internationally recognized disclosure of a product's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. EPDs are voluntarily developed and their overall goal is to provide relevant, verified and clear information regarding the environmental performance of products. The basis of the EPD is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the product, in accordance to ISO 14025 and EN 15804+A2.

We currently provide generic Product EPDs for our most important systems in our download section. But with the help of the EPD Builder, this number will grow exponentially, as trustworthy EPDs can be generated of virtually any variant combination we can offer for windows, doors, sliding doors and façades. The number of Project-specific EPDs is endless.

The EPD Builder tool is third-party verified by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU). All EPDs created in the Reynaers Aluminium EPD Builder are therefore IBU-verified EPDs, which adds to the credibility of the information and supports your sustainable decision making process. Both our Product EPDs and Project-specific EPDs are based on ReynaPro configurations, complemented with reliable in-house data.

DigiTrace can help extend the lifetime of buildings by offering clear information that helps you maintain, repair, recycle or reuse building elements in a truly circular way. Important sustainability documentation is included, such as EPDs, maintenance guidelines and material composition details.