Hydro Building Systems has entered into a collaboration with Saint-Gobain Glass to reduce the carbon footprint of building facades in half, by integrating the low-carbon solutions offered by both companies.

The companies are leveraging their unique technologies to create low embodied carbon products. Hydro Building Systems uses Hydro CIRCAL, with a high percentage of recycled post-consumer scrap in its aluminium facade solutions. Saint-Gobain Glass produces low-carbon glass products using renewable electricity and a high level of recycled content.

“We share with Hydro the same ambition to be leaders in light and sustainable construction. This partnership will enable us to increase the awareness of low-carbon solutions for façades. This means common specification training for our specifiers to get to know the counterpart offer and joint communication actions,” says Marion Portenseigne, BU Glass Façade Specification Director at Saint-Gobain Glass.

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According to a lifecycle assessment study of façades, it is estimated that the embodied carbon of the building façade could be reduced by up to half by combining façade systems made from Hydro CIRCAL 75R glazed with ORAÉ products, such as the COOL-LITE XTREME ORAÉ solar control glass.

Hydro and Saint-Gobain Glass are also investing in urban mining across Europe, a method that recycles end-of-life aluminium and glass, underlining their commitment to circularity in the building industry. In addition, the companies will work together to ensure that glass and aluminium from end-of life façades will be recycled.

“This can only be achieved through closer collaboration with teams of both companies involved, from the initial design stages to the completion of the building,” says Lucile Souyri, Sustainability Manager at Hydro Building Systems.

This partnership not only enables the creation of greener buildings, but also provides builders with a potential avenue for European financial support. Both companies are committed to sustainable development and helping architects and builders construct more eco-friendly buildings. This is a crucial step as buildings currently account for 39 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.