The company Schüco was the first certified for the responsible use of aluminum

Schüco International KG was the first company in the construction industry to be certified according to the internationally recognized "Performance Standard" issued by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The window and façade systems manufacturer confirmed its commitment to the responsible use of aluminum throughout its entire production process and value chain. Schüco's goal is to provide architects and clients with products made from sustainable materials, with which they can design buildings that will retain their value in the future.

As part of the certification according to the Performance Standard, Schüco allowed external auditors to thoroughly review the company's management and showcased the established systems and measures that contribute to the implementation of environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing processes across all its operations. The audit primarily focused on processes related to the use of aluminum in adherence to environmental protection principles, from product development and their efficient production to recycling and returning aluminum back into the production cycle. The audit took place in July 2019 and was conducted by GUTcert (part of the AFNOR group), which stated that Schüco meets all the sustainable business requirements established by ASI. "For us, this certification represents an important milestone on the path to the responsible use of aluminum and motivates us to continue our efforts towards even greater sustainability in construction. Our goal is to enable our partners to build such structures that will endure in the future and will retain their value over the long term," said Andreas Engelhardt, Managing Partner of Schüco.


Aluminum is an important material for Schüco, as it is characterized by its long lifespan and offers a wide range of uses. These properties are ideal for manufacturing user-friendly and energy-efficient window, door, and façade systems with exceptional recyclability – solutions that contribute to the ecological balance of buildings. Schüco's aluminum profiles meet the essential criteria for sustainable construction, which is why they are also the foundation for building certification according to BREEAM, LEED, or DGNB standards. The significance of these independent certifications is growing not only in the eyes of clients and investors but also in relation to public procurement, as they ensure that buildings retain their value over the long term.

In addition to the positive environmental properties of aluminum during its use and disposal phases, the holistic approach also addresses how the raw material is obtained and processed. At the very beginning of the production chain, emphasis is placed primarily on biodiversity protection at mining sites and consideration of local community interests. Integral components of a responsible supply chain for aluminum products also include the use of renewable energy sources in the processing of raw aluminum.

To ensure that the sourcing of aluminum used in its products occurs in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, Schüco has become an active member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), alongside other companies and non-governmental organizations. This non-profit organization has established industry standards for the responsible use of aluminum throughout the entire value chain. In addition to the "Performance Standard," it has also developed the "Chain of Custody Standard" for material management, which sets clear requirements for a responsible supply chain and detailed guidelines for its implementation.

With the recently obtained certification according to the internationally recognized "Performance Standard" from ASI, Schüco again positions itself as a leader in the construction sector. Several years ago, it began developing its products according to the "Cradle to Cradle" (C2C) principle – products manufactured in this way can continually be returned to the industrial cycle as reusable raw materials after serving their original purpose. Currently, more than 40 Schüco window, door, façade, and shading systems are certified at the silver level, which places Schüco among the pioneers of the C2C concept in construction.