When discussing carbon emissions in the construction sector, it’s essential to consider the complete lifecycle of a building. As South Africa’s built environment faces growing pressure to align with green building standards — including those set by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) and the evolving Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitments — understanding where emissions come from is more important than ever.
Let’s Talk Carbon
Energy consumption means carbon emissions. Across a building’s lifecycle, emissions fall into two categories: operational carbon and embodied carbon.
- Embodied carbon accounts for approximately 30% of a building’s total emissions — covering materials manufacturing, construction activities, and end-of-life processes. In the South African context, this is particularly significant given the country’s energy-intensive steel and materials industries.
- Operational carbon makes up the remaining 70%, stemming from energy used to run the building — lighting, HVAC systems, water heating, and more. With South Africa’s ongoing energy challenges and a grid still heavily reliant on coal, reducing operational energy demand through efficient building envelopes and low-carbon aluminium joinery is a practical and impactful strategy.
Specifying energy-efficient, low-carbon aluminium fenestration systems can meaningfully reduce both carbon categories — and Reynaers Aluminium provides the tools to quantify exactly how.
EPDs: Product Data You Can Trust
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are third-party verified documents that report the environmental impact of products based on rigorous lifecycle assessments (LCA). For architects, green building consultants, and developers working toward GBCSA Green Star ratings, LEED, BREEAM or EDGE certifications in South Africa, the EPDs provide the credible, comparable data needed to make informed material specifications.
Reynaers Aluminium currently offers 19 generic EPDs covering 67 product variants, giving local professionals ready access to transparent carbon impact data without the guesswork.
For project-specific requirements — such as submissions for green building certification or client sustainability reporting — Reynaers also provides project-specific CO₂ declarations on demand, tailored to your exact specification.
Browse EPD Downloads
It’s always recommended to do your research, compare products and consult with experts to help you make an informed decision that best meets your needs and budget. Connect in South Africa with a local Reynaers specialist here
