Aluminium is one of the most widely used materials in the built environment.
It’s durable, lightweight, and reliable.
But there’s one aspect of aluminium that’s been harder to reconcile: its carbon footprint.
The Shift Toward Lower-Carbon Alternatives
Across the construction and manufacturing industries, there’s growing interest in lower-carbon aluminium, produced with renewable energy sources, recycled content, and improved smelting processes that significantly cut emissions.
Aluminium suppliers in regions like Scandinavia, Canada, and the UAE have begun scaling production of lower-carbon options, with certifications and lifecycle data to support specification decisions.
In parallel, more architects and designers are factoring embodied carbon into their material choices, even in projects where sustainability isn’t the primary brief.
Image: Ballarat Line upgrade
So, What Does This Mean for Access Design?
For architects and specifiers working on accessibility infrastructure such as handrails, ramps, balustrades and public walkways, the performance and compliance requirements are non-negotiable.
But where there’s flexibility, lower-carbon aluminium presents a viable alternative without compromising on strength or longevity.
Even if not every project can achieve ultra-low emissions, there’s value in asking the question: Can we do this better?
Small choices in material sourcing can add up, especially when repeated across systems, sites and sectors.
Image: Ramsgate beach
Join the Conversation at ArcCPD Live
At the ArcCPD Live webinar on Thursday 11 September, Moddex will be presenting their session, “Lower Carbon Aluminium in Architecture and Design,” exploring the basics, the benefits, and where it fits in the design process.
Image: Moddex
