Sustainable construction with durable materials and smart use of materials
Our goal - to minimise the ecological footprint
Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We have summarised our ecological commitment in our company-wide MISSION: TOGETHER. RESPONSIBLE.. Of course, we also apply and comply with this mission with regards our aluminium composite panels.
Aluminium composite panels - smart use of aluminium with optimum material properties
The ALUCOBOND® composite structure comprises corrosion-resistant aluminium cover sheets and a mineral-filled core. Both components can be 100% recycled and returned to the material recycling loop. The composite structure gives the panel its exceptional flexural rigidity and flatness with extremely low weight.
Compared with solid sheets, a lower aluminium content significantly reduces energy the consumption required to produce one square metre, yet the same inherent rigidity is maintained. What's more, by reducing the weight it also reduces the CO2 footprint during transport.
The rear-ventilated façade and sustainability
Efficiency, sophisticated technology and the greatest possible design variations are the quality features of rear-ventilated façade systems. In addition to functional safety and design freedom, clients and architects particularly appreciate the sustainable construction method with low maintenance costs.
The rear-ventilated construction system is suitable for both existing and new buildings.
The characteristic feature of a rear-ventilated façade is the separating air layer between the insulated exterior wall and ALUCOBOND® cladding (weather protection).
Thanks to the strong insulating effect of the rear-ventilated façade system, a building's protection against heat in summer and against cold in winter is increased, making a valuable contribution to active and passive energy saving.
Compared to other façade options ,e.g. thermal insulation composite systems, ALUCOBOND® does not need to be replaced several times during a building's life cycle. This quality has a very positive effect on a building's eco balance.
The use of innovative ALUCOBOND® systems (e.g. easy fiX) can reduce the U-value by approx. 25 % and the aluminium substructure by approx. 45 %.
Protection for the building interior against heat in summer; against cooling and heat loss in winter
Optimal indoor climate, favourable vapour diffusion behaviour (no condensation)
ALUCOBOND® Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
ALUCOBOND® has an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with international ISO standards. The "ecological footprint" is verified by an independent third party. The EPD provides information on the product's environmental impact in terms of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions (CO2), the release of volatile organic compounds or water consumption.
Environmental product declarations act as basis for the sustainability certification of buildings. Thanks to holistic assessment procedures, it is now possible to analyse a building in terms of its sustainable quality.
In our download centre in the Sustainability section, we have also included a list of the required values for each building certification (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB) in addition to the EPD. These can also be found on the platform Building Material Scout.
As we consider it important to promote the transparency necessary for construction sector sustainability assessments, you can also find us in the DGNB Navigator, This is a building product platform which, acts as link between product-specific sustainability aspects and the needs of planners.
Sustainability in production
We are working continuously to reduce our CO2 emissions in the production of ALUCOBOND®.Minimising CO2 emissions in the supply chain for the core material used in ALUCOBOND® was one of the initiatives implemented . By altering the means of transport from road to rail, we were able to reduce lorry mileage by 54%, which corresponds to a 17% reduction in CO2 emissions for ALUCOBOND® deliveries.
We are a member of the European Coil Coating Association (ECCA) and a leader in coil coating standards and emissions monitoring. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) capture during the coil coating process amounts to 99% . Coil coating ALUCOBOND® composite panels is therefore ecologically sound. This is certified by the VOC A+rating . The manufacturing process complies with the strict European and German regulations in Directive 2010/75/EU (Industrial Emission Directive, IED , comprising the German Solvent Ordinance (31st BImSchV))
We also undertake ongoing investment in sustainable manufacturing processes, such as a heat exchanger which reuses the hot extracted air generated during cleaning processes in our aluminium composites paint shop and uses it in other stages of the coil coating process. Excess paint is recovered during the process and not incinerated as waste. All solvents used in cleaning the machines are collected and recycled.
ALUCOBOND®for the European market is 100% German made
Use of the highest quality raw materials and highly corrosion-resistant aluminium
Compliance with the most stringent international environmental standards
Production processes and products are free of toxic substances or heavy metals, in t
Mineral additives act as flame retardants for ALUCOBOND® aluminium composite core material . This avoids the use of halogen compounds in the core material.
PAH compounds - in accordance with REACH: ALUCOBOND® is below the PAH limit value required by the EU and so it fulfils the requirements of the EU regulation.
VOC and SVOC emissions: ALUCOBOND® fulfils the requirements for VOC and SVOC emissions after 3 and after 28 days according to the test and evaluation scheme from the Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products (AgBB) .
We have been successfully certified in accordance with ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001 (energy management) for many years
Recycling
There are various methods for separating the different material components in the composite. One industrial process technology is described below:
Step 1:
Shredding panel cuttings
The panel material waste scrap is processed into regular sized chips.
Step 2:
Composite grinding using a turbo rotor mill
The chips are propelled at high speed towards the cutting edges and broken down into their components.
Step 3:
Separation of core and Aluminium by weight differences.
Components are separated from each other using eddy current through the different densities.
Step 4:
Processing the components
After separation, the aluminium is sent directly for melting. Before being returned to the cycle, the polymer chips made of polyethylene and PLUS/FR (flame-retardant) are processed into regranulate using an extrusion process.
Aluminium
Core A2
Core polyethylene
Core PLUS/FR
Recyclable material cycle
We take an active part in the aluminium composite panel recycling loop with the aim of establishing a recycling network involving as many recycling and collection companies as possible. As part of our MISSION: TOGETHER. RESPONSIBLE. we have defined the goal of feeding as many panel materials as possible back into our production process at the end of their life cycle.
As this goal can only be achieved in cooperation and with strong partners, in 2020, 3A Composites joined the association A|U|F e.V. and set up a working group dealing with the topic of aluminium composites. We are the first manufacturers of aluminium composite panels in Europe to have established a recycling system for the return of our aluminium composite materials in Germany. The collection and recycling is carried out in cooperation with our strong partners in A|U|F, an association supported by German metal construction companies, system houses and other companies, which organises a closed recycling loop for aluminium in the window, door and façade sectors.
Join us at 3A Composite and start a sustainable disposal of aluminium composite panels! Get in touch with one of our collection partners today to return your composite material waste to the cycle! Find contacts for the collection of composite material waste and further information here.
