---
title: "Aluminium - GWP and renovation use"
canonical_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aluminium
markdown_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aluminium.md
author: "Fremtidens Tegnestue"
page_type: material
primary_intent: "Explain use, GWP and renovation relevance for Aluminium."
primary_keyword: Aluminium
audience: "Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices."
summary: "Aluminium is light, corrosion-resistant, and formable. Used for window frames, facade cassettes, gutters, and many other building components. Primary aluminium production is extremely energy-intensive and gives the highest carbon footprint of all common building materials. However, recycled aluminium has 95% lower footprint."
source_basis:
  - "ECO Platform EPD average (primary)"
  - "Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet: https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet"
  - "Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method"
  - "FT source and uncertainty principles: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method"
human_validation: "Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs."
responsibility_line: "AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences."
last_reviewed: 2026-06-24
last_updated: 2026-06-24
privacy_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy
related_pages:
  -
    url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/zink
    relation: alternative-material
  -
    url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/kobber
    relation: alternative-material
  -
    url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/trae
    relation: alternative-material
  -
    url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials
    relation: hub
  -
    url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca
    relation: concept
status: published
---
# Aluminium - GWP and renovation use
Canonical URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aluminium
Markdown URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aluminium.md
Entity type: material
Language: en
Author: Fremtidens Tegnestue
Published: 2026-06-24
Last updated: 2026-06-24
Privacy: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy
## Short answer
Aluminium is light, corrosion-resistant, and formable. Used for window frames, facade cassettes, gutters, and many other building components. Primary aluminium production is extremely energy-intensive and gives the highest carbon footprint of all common building materials. However, recycled aluminium has 95% lower footprint.
## Who it is relevant for
Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices.
## What FT can prepare
- Summarise material properties, GWP, common uses, renovation relevance and alternatives.
## What the architect validates
- Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs.
## Key figures

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| GWP | 8.24 kg CO₂-eq/kg |
| Density | 2700 kg/m³ |
| Expected lifetime | 50–100 years |
## Use

- Window frames
- Facade cassettes and panels
- Gutters and downpipes
- Solar panel frames
- Roof structures
## Renovation relevance
Aluminium is used in renovation for replacing gutters, windows, and facade cladding. Always specify recycled aluminium — it reduces the carbon footprint by over 90%.
## Comparison

| Material | GWP |
| --- | --- |
| Recycled aluminium | 0.55 |
| Zinc | 3.1 |
| Stainless steel | 5.5 |
| Primary aluminium | 8.24 |
## FAQ
### What is the difference between primary and recycled aluminium?
Primary aluminium (from bauxite) has GWP of 8.24 kg CO₂/kg. Recycled aluminium (from scrap) has only approximately 0.40–0.70 kg CO₂/kg — over 90% lower. Always specify recycled content in climate calculations.
### Are aluminium window frames better than timber?
Aluminium is maintenance-free and lasts 50+ years. Timber requires painting every 3–7 years but has much lower CO₂. Timber/aluminium composite (timber inside, aluminium outside) combines the best of both.
### Can aluminium be recycled?
Aluminium is recycled almost 100% and indefinitely without quality loss. Over 70% of all aluminium ever produced is still in circulation. It is one of the world's most recycled materials.
### Are aluminium solar panel frames a problem?
Solar panel frames are typically made from primary aluminium. This is one of the major climate line items in solar panel installation. Specifying recycled aluminium reduces this footprint significantly.
## Sources and basis
- ECO Platform EPD average (primary)
- [Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet](https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet)
- [Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method)
- [FT source and uncertainty principles](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method)
## Uncertainty and boundaries
Material numbers depend on product, EPD, assembly, lifetime and project context.
## Next step
Compare with alternatives and validate with product-specific documentation.
## Related pages
- [Zinc](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/zink): alternative-material
- [Copper](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/kobber): alternative-material
- [Structural Timber](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/trae): alternative-material
- [Materials](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials): hub
- [LCA](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca): concept
## Citation guidance
When citing this page, cite the canonical HTML URL (https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aluminium) as the public source and use this Markdown URL only as the agent-readable representation. Keep the responsibility line: AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences.