Strategic Partnership Driving Innovation in Sustainable Aluminium Solutions

The VELUX Group, a global leader in roof windows and skylights and Novelis has signed a long-term commercial agreement to accelerate decarbonization in the building industry. This strategic partnership for low-carbon solutions will see VELUX roof windows and accessories manufactured using flat-rolled aluminium made from over 70% recycled content.

This agreement builds on a 2022 letter of intent to strengthen a shared ambition: reducing CO₂e emissions to a level of < 3 kg CO₂ eq/kg of flat-rolled aluminium used in VELUX roof window coverings and accessories by 2030. The partnership is a shining example of Novelis’ commitment to our Vision 3×30.

This agreement really demonstrates our strong commitment to reach this very ambitious goal within just five years. It also secures the steady supply for several years of a key roof window material with a desirably low carbon footprint. With more than 70% recycled content, this Novelis aluminium is key for our efforts to decarbonise VELUX products.

Klaus Lorentzen, Senior Vice President Products and Innovation, VELUX Group

This partnership with VELUX is a catalyst for transformation and we have made significant progress together in developing alloys that not only meet demanding performance standards but also support a circular economy. At Novelis, we are proud to lead the aluminium industry in advancing high-recycled-content alloys. Partnering with strong brands like VELUX is a testament for sustainable innovation. By giving aluminium scrap new life again and again, we are working towards our 3x30 Vision by becoming the world´s lowest-emissions provider of flat-rolled aluminium.

Michael Hahne, Vice President of Commercial, Novelis Europe

Aluminium is an essential material in VELUX roof windows, particularly for external protection. However, it also represents a major contributor to the company’s scope 3 emissions – those generated across its value chain. By shifting to aluminium with high recycled content, VELUX is taking a major step toward decarbonizing its products.

Recycling aluminium can reduce emissions by up to 95% compared to primary aluminium. The aluminium alloy provided by Novelis to VELUX is specifically optimized for use in roof window production.

Pushing boundaries for low-carbon building materials

Novelis is a leader in driving low-carbon aluminium solutions and has been a supplier to VELUX for more than 40 years. Since 2022, the companies have been collaborating closely to reduce the carbon footprint of the aluminium used in VELUX products. To date, more than 50% of the aluminium supplied by Novelis to VELUX has been replaced with high recycled content, and the partners are working on increasing this amount steadily in the coming years.

Together, VELUX and Novelis are not just reducing emissions – they’re reshaping the future of decarbonize building materials.

For more information please read the official Press Release

Novelis and the VELUX Group have entered into a partnership agreement focused on collaboration for increased product sustainability and carbon reduction. Novelis will provide high-recycled content, flat-rolled aluminum for use in VELUX roof windows.

The multi-year partnership agreement between Novelis and VELUX has a goal to reach below 4.0 kg carbon emitted per kilogram of the supplied rolled aluminium by the end of 2024, which is well below half the average carbon footprint of primary aluminium used in Europe. The partners are aiming for further carbon reductions by 2030.

To achieve this, the companies are collaborating closely to evolve the design of the products so that they can absorb higher recycled content inputs. Recycling aluminium is at the core of Novelis’ sustainability strategy because recycling requires only 5% of the energy and produces up to 95 percent fewer carbon emissions than manufacturing primary aluminium. 

The partnership is a novel approach to how Novelis and VELUX work together. Novelis is more than an aluminium supplier and VELUX more than just a buyer of aluminium. We are working hand in hand to develop new alloys and coating systems that will meet VELUX’s advanced technical and performance requirements, while reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. VELUX and Novelis will also partner to influence the building and construction industry to improve end of life recycling and circularity of all products used in this segment.

“We are excited that we can help VELUX achieve its ambitious carbon emission reduction goals by supplying low-carbon, sustainable aluminium solutions. As a leader in aluminium sustainability, Novelis recognizes that material innovation and collaboration across the value chain will enable decarbonization, support a circular economy and help us achieve our carbon neutrality goal.”

Stephen Boney, Vice President, Specialty Products, Novelis Europe

Read more about the partnership agreement and the joint approach for carbon reduction in the published press release: VELUX Group takes next step to decarbonise aluminium in roof windows together with Novelis

AL:sust™ Brand Family Leads the Evolution of Sustainability

Novelis’ AL:sust™ brand is a growing family of highly advanced, highly sustainable products. This collection of innovative low-carbon aluminum solutions – containing at least 80% recycled content – is planned for multiple, end-use applications of diverse markets and customer needs.

Taking sustainability to the next level

With AL:sust™, Novelis is taking sustainability to the next level by helping customers decarbonize their products through the use of aluminum alloys made from high amounts of recycled content. At the same time, Novelis continues to provide customers with products that adhere to the highest quality and industry standards. This distinctive brand portfolio demonstrates Novelis’ unwavering commitment to increase recycled content in its industry-leading aluminum products and develop more low-carbon solutions.

>80% recycled content

>74% reduction in CO2 emissions

(compared to average footprint of EU primary aluminum production)

Aluminum recycling only requires 5% of the energy used to produce primary aluminum.

[Source: EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM | A strategy for achieving aluminium’s full potential for circular economy by 2030, April 2020]

Our AL:sust™ products: HRC73A® & HRC57S®

AL:sust™ HRC57S® is a blank anodizing quality for further batch anodizing being used as architectural application for exterior and interior façade cladding.

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AL:sust™ HRC73A® is an already pre-anodized aluminum façade cladding material, ready for further processing and cladding of exterior and interior buildings applications.

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ASI Certified Material

Novelis has the capability to supply ASI certified alloys and has achieved external certification for both the Performance Standard and the Chain of Custody Standard from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) across all its European manufacturing sites.

High Recycled-Content Anodizing Quality

Innovative HRC57S® has a recycled content of more than 90%

This new anodizing quality – ready for batch anodizing – expands the Novelis product range of anodizing product solutions for architectural applications with an exceptionally high-recycled content of more than 90%. HRC57S® provides an outstanding AlMg1 quality for decorative batch anodizing with superior bending and non-combustible properties not available in other competitive alloys.

The innovative Novelis product AL:sust™ HRC57S® is available in flat sheet dimensions and as coil for further batch anodizing and processing. It allows architects, fabricators, façade installers, and building owners to achieve more sophisticated and compelling designs while decreasing the carbon footprint of new-build or redesigned structures.

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Independent Test Series

Sustainability, innovation, high quality standards and customer satisfaction are key for Novelis. For this reason, and as part of its development to market maturity, Novelis subjected the anodized recycling quality Novelis AL:sust™ HRC57S® with a recycled content of more than 90%, to a series of tests in which ten different anodizing companies participated. These were selected anonymously by the VOA (Verband für Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e.V. [Association for the Surface Treatment of Aluminum] from the association’s members.

In field tests, the material was processed according to the same specifications. The data obtained from these tests reveal the anodizing recycling quality Novelis AL:sust™ HRC57S® – produced and ready for further processing in the batch anodizing process – basically has good decorative anodizing properties. The subjective general assessment of the tested surfaces after the batch anodizing process to evaluate gloss, corrosion and color measurement is generally positive throughout the test series.

As with other aluminum alloys, the use of different aluminum alloys in one project should be avoided to prevent possible color differences.

Applications

Facades

Interior & Decorative

High Recycled Content Coil-Anodized Aluminum

Innovative HRC73A® has a recycled content of more than 90%

This pre-anodized product expands the Novelis product range of anodizing product solutions for architectural applications with an exceptionally high-recycled content of more than 90%. HRC73A® provides an outstanding AlMg1 quality for with permanent metallic gloss, excellent bending properties and non-combustible properties.

The Novelis product AL:sust™ HRC73A® is available as coil or in flat sheet dimensions for direct façade cladding. It allows architects, fabricators, façade installers, and building owners to achieve more sophisticated and compelling designs while decreasing the carbon footprint of new-build or redesigned structures.

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Innovation improves the future – Winner of German Innovation Award 2022

Successful innovation is more than just a new idea – it noticeably improves the future. Novelis AL:sust™ HRC73A® was recognized by the German Design Council with the 2022 German Innovation Award. AL:sust™ HRC73A® won in the category “Excellence in Business to Business – Materials & Surfaces”. The German Innovation Awards honor products and solutions across industries. Solutions that clearly stand out from the crowd thanks to their added value for users and the environment.