2021-05-17

ALUPROF takes another step towards sustainable building by joining the DGNB

The German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen; DGNB) is the largest organisation in Europe promoting ‘green’ solutions in the sector. Its members number more than 1 200 and they have now been joined by Polish company ALUPROF S.A., a leader in the aluminium joinery industry. ALUPROF has been promoting the concept of environmentally responsible building for many years now.

Mission, values and experience

ALUPROF’s mission is to take part in the transformation of urban architecture and create environmentally friendly solutions. The company puts this into practice by providing innovative and sound ecological solutions for the construction industry, focusing on aluminium windows, doors, façades, roller shutters, industrial doors, external blinds and insect screens, and by maintaining ongoing contact with its business partners at every stage of a project.

The construction industry has a major impact on the climate, which is why it is so crucial for companies to commit to change and take on the challenge of reducing the sector’s negative effect on the natural environment. The statistics tell the truth; buildings are responsible for 40% of energy use and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU. At present, no less than 35% of its buildings are more than fifty years old and almost three quarters of its building stock is energy inefficient. In addition, depending on the country, no more than 1% or thereabouts of those structures are regenerated annually. One of the challenges climate change confronts the building and architectural sectors with is the fact that it is not only social and economic comfort which hangs on the materials and technologies used, but also the future of the entire planet.

Aleksandra Baksik, Brand and Sustainable Development Manager at ALUPROF S.A., explains that:

We accomplish our mission by creating reliable, durable solutions which will last for many years and then, at the end of the product’s life cycle, it returns to the circular economy, with the aluminium and other parts being recycled. Our supplier’s low-emission billets, which are made from aluminium scrap, are crucially significant to the concept of a low carbon footprint which is built in to our solutions.

She goes on to add:

We need to remember that, when we reutilise aluminium scrap, we save approximately 95% of the energy needed for the initial production of aluminium from bauxite, which is an extremely energy-intensive process.

ALUPROF’s green initiatives

One of ALUPROF’s many responsible activities worth mentioning is its work to raise ecological awareness in the construction industry by collaborating with the Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC), which is part of the World Green Building Council, and through initiatives undertaken jointly with its business partners. The company also takes part in conferences and symposia related to the topic and organised by the PLGBC. The Green Building Symposium is one example of this kind of event.

ALUPROF’s solutions have undergone extensive environmental verification, including the certification process carried out in line with the Cradle to Cradle® philosophy, a product life cycle concept which attaches importance to ecological aspects. The company has also been certified as running an environmental management system which complies with the ISO 14001 standard. This serves as an inspiration for continually improving the production process.

ALUPROF’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are another aspect of its pro-ecological activities. As set out in the principles of the programme, EPDs indicate the impact which a manufacturer’s products have on the natural environment.

ALUPROF’s daily work goes hand in hand with its motto, ‘Let’s build a better future’. The company shares its strategy and philosophy at a wide range of events, including this year’s edition of the BAU DIGITAL trade fair. More information about the fair can be found here.

ALUPROF can be proud of being a part of a host of demanding developments certified in accordance with the BREEAM and LEED standards. The many green buildings where the company is a presence include architectural gems in Poland, around Europe and in the USA. One example is the Sara Kulturhus; located in the Swedish city of Skellefteå, it is one of the tallest wood and aluminium buildings in the world. The Mennica Legacy Tower, a new symbol of Warsaw, is another, as is 611 West 56th Street in New York, Álvaro Siza’s first work in the United States. There are many, many more.

ALUPROF’s systems are also an ideal response to the current trend of renovating buildings and bringing out their former beauty in a contemporary setting. The Hamburg Port Authority, New Little Mill in Manchester, Manufaktura in the central Polish city of Łódź and Elektronownia Powiśle in Warsaw can serve as examples here.