Metrovacesa begins to use recycled aluminium in its homes, as part of its commitment to the circular economy

• This circular material, made from post-consumer aluminium from windows that have finished their life cycle, saves up to 95% of energy and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 85% during production.

• The new method will be applied in two residential projects in Puerto de Sagunto, Aurada and Chopin.

• With this added value, Metrovacesa continues to advance in the development of a new housing model based on circularity, through the optimisation of the use of the necessary resources in the building to mitigate the environmental impact.

Madrid, 05 September 2023. Metrovacesa, Spain’s leading real estate developer with over one hundred years of history, is starting to use certified recycled aluminium in two developments in Puerto de Sagunto, Valencia. This circular material, which comes from post-consumer aluminium from windows that have finished their life cycle, provides energy savings of up to 95% and a reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 85% during its production and reduces the carbon footprint of the aluminium carpentry of both developments.

The agreement, signed with Technal, a subsidiary of the Hydro Building System Group’s leading multinational in aluminium construction systems, will allow the use of CIRCAL 75R aluminium. This circular material comes from post-consumer aluminium from windows that have finished their life cycle, such as buildings that are rehabilitated or demolished, to reintroduce it as a raw material.

Thanks to this “urban mining”, the emissions that will be produced in the construction of these 2 developments will be reduced by the equivalent of taking 41 cars off the road for one year (190,000 kg of CO2), compared to the global average use of primary aluminium.

This new construction method using recycled materials will be used in the development of Residencial Aurada and Residencial Chopin, two complexes located in Puerto de Sagunto, Valencia, consisting of 78 and 22 homes, respectively, which have required an initial investment of around 18.5 million euros. With this added value, the delivery of homes is expected to begin at the end of 2024.

David Sierra, director of projects and sustainability at Metrovacesa, said: “These advances represent another step forward in the decarbonisation roadmap. At Metrovacesa, we work daily so that the new housing model is based on circularity, ensuring efficiency in the use of resources, preserving the value of products and materials and moving towards a more equitable and resilient economic system that is compatible with the limits of the planet.

Strong commitment to sustainable housing

The construction sector accounts for around 40% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions emitted into the atmosphere. Consequently, this sector is one of those with the greatest responsibility in the energy transition towards a more sustainable model.

As part of the objectives set out in Metrovacesa’s ESG Strategy, the progressive reduction of the carbon footprint is significantly supported by the promotion of the circular economy, through the optimisation of the use of the resources necessary in the execution of a property development, which includes the search for opportunities to use recycled materials.

In addition to the implementation of these materials, the developer carries out a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) process in all its projects, a process that allows conclusions to be drawn about the products that have the greatest impact on the environment and thus be able to act on them, requiring that their production includes a percentage of recyclability and thus reduce their impact on CO₂ emissions.