LIXIL Introduces PremiAL R100, Japan’s First¹ 100% Recycled Aluminum Building Material for Pre-order

- PremiAL contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, and mitigates the environmental footprint of buildings

LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, will begin providing PremiAL R100, Japan’s first¹ low-carbon aluminum building material made from 100% recycled aluminum, on October 1, 2023. The launch of PremiAL furthers the company’s commitment to Circularity, a key area of focus in LIXIL Environmental Vision 2050 “Zero Carbon and Circular Living,” which includes the mid-term target to use 100% recycled aluminum by FYE 2031.

The stable procurement of recycled materials and establishing new manufacturing methods presented a significant challenge in achieving LIXIL’s target of using 100% recycled aluminum. With 25 years of experience in aluminum recycling, its industry-leading proprietary technology, and in collaboration with its long-lasting partners, LIXIL was able to accomplish what was long perceived as impossible. To date, LIXIL has successfully mass-produced 6063 billets² made with 100% recycled aluminum and will begin supplying PremiAL R100 for use in buildings. This will further accelerate efforts to achieve the goal of using 100% recycled aluminum in its products by FYE2031 in its value chain.

In enabling clients in further quantifying the benefits of using low-carbon aluminum, such as in the construction phase, and in enhancing the environmental profile of buildings, PremiAL R100 has received the EcoLeaf Environmental Label³, a third-party product declaration that verifies the environmental information of a product throughout the lifecycle stages. In addition, JIC Quality Assurance Ltd, an accredited certification body, has also verified that PremiAL R100’s production process⁴ only uses 100% recycled aluminum and no new ingots. By minimizing the environmental footprint of its product offerings, LIXIL will contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions of buildings starting in Japan, while exploring new markets in the future.

Reducing embodied carbon
The use of recycled aluminum reduces CO₂ emissions by 97% when compared with smelting new ingots and expected to advance efforts and contribute to 30% reductions of Scope 3 CO₂ emission targets by FYE2031.

With the heightened focus on reducing embodied carbon worldwide, the ratio of operational carbon to embodied carbon⁵ in the construction sector has shifted to 50:50⁶ from approx. 70:30⁷, in recent years. PremiAL R100 was registered as an aluminum profile intermediate building material on September 6, 2023. The EcoLeaf Environmental Label³ implements a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to analyze environmental footprints over life cycles, that takes CO₂ emissions from raw material procurement, transportation, and production into consideration. EcoLeaf certified that 1kgs of PremiAL R100 will reduce embodied carbon down to 2.9 kg, that translates to 80%⁸ less than conventional aluminum profile materials. 

Excerpt from EcoLeaf Type III Environmental Declaration (EPD)

EcoLeaf and CFP declarations search page:
https://ecoleaf-label.jp/english/searchAll.php?yearFrom=&monthFrom=&yearTo=&monthTo=&keyword=LIXIL

The construction sector accounts for 37% of global CO₂ emissions and making reductions in building is essential. PremiAL R100 will initially be limited to made-to-order production, focusing on building materials and in-house products for partners seeking to enhance environmental profile of buildings. LIXIL will explore other markets, including Europe and the United States, where environmentally-conscious developers, companies, and investors are proactively selecting buildings materials that help reduce environmental footprint.

LIXIL’s sustainability efforts contribute to the environment, society, and people's lives today and tomorrow, and how it achieves sustainable business growth. LIXIL will continue developing products and services to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere.