MBS Architectural adopts Capral's LocAl® Green Lower Carbon Aluminium for sustainable building solutions

In a significant step towards sustainability, MBS Architectural, known for its commitment to excellence in the construction industry, has transitioned to Capral's LocAl® Green Lower Carbon Aluminium for its Apollo Concealed Clip Aluminium Batten System. This strategic shift empowers architects, designers, builders, and developers with a cleaner and greener alternative for their projects, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly building materials. Moreover, this action will cut down the carbon emissions linked to their range by over 500 tonnes annually.

The Apollo Concealed Clip Aluminium Batten System is a modular and highly customizable solution adaptable to various project-specific needs. Designed for both wall and ceiling applications, it offers architects and designers flexibility in creating stunning linear features that add depth and texture to interior spaces.

Daniel Wearne, General Manager at MBS Architectural, highlights the significance of this move, stating, "The Apollo Aluminium Batten range comprises eight profile shapes extruded by Capral; across the range, we supply more than 80 tonnes of aluminium into Australian construction projects annually."

Australia's construction industry contributes significantly to carbon emissions, accounting for 30 to 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year, a substantial portion of national greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing this environmental impact, architects, designers, developers, and the industry, in general, are increasingly prioritizing lower-carbon building materials.

In November 2022, Capral introduced LocAl®, a lower-carbon primary aluminium option, across its locally extruded products. The LocAl® lineup offers two environmentally friendly aluminium options, among the lowest carbon aluminium available globally.

• LocAl® Green with carbon emissions of 8kg CO2e/kg Al*
• LocAl® Super Green at 4kg CO2e/kg Al*

MBS Architectural swiftly embraced this change, transitioning all purchases of Apollo Aluminium Battens to LocAl® Green while offering LocAl® Super Green to meet specific project requirements. This transition underscores MBS's commitment to innovation and sustainability within the construction sector.

Reducing the carbon footprint in aluminium production is critical in addressing environmental concerns. A significant portion of carbon emissions in the aluminium industry arises from the electrolysis process used in smelting. The carbon emissions in primary aluminium production can vary widely, ranging from under 4kg CO2e/kg Al to over 20kg CO2e/kg Al, depending on the energy sources used during smelting. Capral's adoption of LocAl® reflects its commitment to sourcing sustainable aluminium billets and its adherence to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standards for responsible production and sourcing.

Luke Hawkins, General Manager of Supply & Industrial Solutions at Capral, emphasized the importance of this shift, stating, "This year, approximately 30 per cent of the primary aluminium billet Capral uses in its eight local extrusion presses has a carbon content lower than eight kilograms CO2e per kilogram of aluminium. This is a strategic change for Capral, driven by our desire to make lower-carbon aluminium accessible to Australian manufacturers like MBS. The market is looking for this product, and as Australia's largest extruder of aluminium, we must make it available."

Blake Proud, Head of the Architecture & Design Division at MBS, highlighted the intelligent nature of this solution as he said, "We're innovators, which means we're always on the lookout for new materials, sustainable technologies, and concepts. Capral's LocAl Aluminium extrusions allow us to continue to offer smarter solutions for Australia's leading architects. And the solution is indeed smart; at eight kilograms of carbon emissions per kilogram of aluminium, the LocAl® Green offer, which MBS now supplies as standard on the Apollo Concealed Clip Aluminium Batten System, has 50 per cent lower carbon emissions than the current global average for primary aluminium, yet all other properties and characteristics of the aluminium remain the same."

By transitioning to Capral's LocAl® Green lower carbon aluminium, MBS Architectural takes a significant step in reducing the carbon footprint of its projects and aligning with industry expectations for sustainable architectural products.

Alf Ongarato, Account Manager at Capral, lauded MBS's commitment to sustainability, stating, "This move by MBS positions them among industry leaders actively prioritizing sustainability for the Australian built environment. This single change in how they procure their aluminium will reduce the carbon emissions associated with their products by 560 tonnes per annum. It makes me very proud to work with a business like MBS, which is prioritizing sustainability."

With MBS Architectural's adoption of Capral's LocAl® Green lower carbon aluminium for the Apollo Concealed Aluminium Batten System, architects now have access to a sustainable, high-quality material that enhances the aesthetics of their designs while reducing the environmental impact of their projects.