A life cycle approach is the only way to establish the true environmental performance of any given product.
Climate change and the sustainable and responsible use of natural resources are among the main challenges for society today. This puts them at the top of the political environmental agenda, where they are likely to remain for the foreseeable future.
Product design and consumer behaviour can affect the overall sustainability performance and efficiency of a product. Companies making the products are paying closer attention to manufacture, utilisation, reuse and end-of-life, which are increasingly important for material specifiers.
Among the tools and methodologies available to evaluate the environmental, economic and social performance of materials and consumer products (including their impact on climate change and natural resources), life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a holistic approach that considers the potential impacts
from all stages of manufacture, product use and end-of-life (reuse, recycling or disposal).
A full life cycle approach is the only way to assess a product’s impact on the environment.
It is also, therefore, the best way to help society make informed decisions on the use of materials and their economic importance.
Focusing solely on one aspect of a product’s life, such as the material production or a single impact such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), distorts the real picture and could lead to unintended consequences because it might ignore increased impacts during another life cycle phase (e.g. the use phase) or in another environmental impact category. LCA ensures that these unintended consequences are understood
and avoided.
An LCA ensures that improvements in one life cycle phase do not result in unintended consequences in another phase or impact category.
LCA in PROBOND.
As a company, we have recognised the importance of an environmentally sustainable approach to cladding.
This being the case, we ensure all PROBOND products are made from 30% recycled materials – ensuring our commitment to a circle of sustainability.
Furthermore, all PROBOND products are 100% recyclable. PROCORE A1 and PROMINIUM are both fully aluminium substrates so can be recycled with pure aluminium. PROBOND panels with a mineral or polyethylene core can be separated and both the aluminium and core are recyclable. The core is melted down and re-used in other recycled plastic applications.
Recycling experts such as Sims Metal will purchase and process all PROBOND scrap.
Contact them today to secure your free bin: 1800 727 276
What are the benefits of recycling aluminium?
- Saves Resource Depletion – Aluminium is produced from natural raw-material called bauxite. While bauxite is available in plenty, the mining process of digging huge pits in the ground to obtain bauxite is harmful to nature, stripping of natural vegetation and soil away from wildlife. Recycling aluminium eliminates this process and allows already mined aluminium to be
used again. - Reduces Greenhouse Emissions – Producing aluminium from bauxite ore gives off carbon dioxide as a by-product. It is estimated that aluminium and carbon dioxide are produced in equal amounts during this process.
- Reduces Landfills – Every metal that is not recycled or thrown away will either end up in the landfills or the scrapyard. But, reusing aluminium minimises landfills, which eventually aids the environment. Recycling aluminium cans makes sure that our natural resources are saved and fewer quantities of fresh aluminium are produced.
- Saves Energy – Recycling aluminium saves about 90% of the energy used in extracting aluminium from its bauxite ore.
Future mission.
- provide architects and building designers with accurate information as they analyse the environmental impacts of their designs.
- provide updated information so that the environmental implications of the use of aluminium cladding within different sectors can be quantified and understood
- continue promoting use of recycled aluminium in cladding substrates
- advocate for LCA to be used to promote life cycle thinking, to support policy and decision-making.
- ensure 100% of PROBOND products are being recycled by our clients through metal recyclers