Dr. Paweł Rutecki, VP of R&I and Sustainability at Gränges Europe, brings over two decades of metallurgical expertise and academic excellence. With a strong background in product innovation, investment strategy and sustainability, he leads Gränges’ transition toward a circular, low-carbon aluminium future while aligning research, technology and business competitiveness.
In an interview for “Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment” e-Magazine, Paweł Rutecki underscores Gränges’ sustainability vision anchored in recycling, renewable energy and transparent carbon reporting. It highlights the company’s milestone of surpassing its 2025 recycling target, its SBTi-validated emission goals for 2030 and 2040 and the pivotal role of its Gränges Endure low-carbon product line in driving climate neutrality and circularity across the aluminium value chain.
AL Circle: Could you briefly describe Gränges’ sustainability vision and how recycling / circular aluminium fits into your long-term strategy?
Paweł Rutecki: At Gränges, sustainability is not an addon — it is embedded in our business strategy and long-term competitiveness. Our vision is to lead the transition toward a circular and climate-neutral aluminium industry. Recycling and circularity are central to that ambition. By continuously increasing the share of recycled aluminium and expanding our low-carbon product portfolio, we reduce both our carbon footprint and our reliance on primary aluminium. Circularity enables us to deliver real climate benefits to our customers while strengthening resource efficiency across the entire value chain. Our Gränges Endure product range plays a key role in this journey — it offers verified low-carbon aluminium solutions designed to support our customers’ own decarbonisation targets.
AL Circle: How do you source recycled aluminium / scrap (preconsumer, post-consumer)? What challenges do you face in securing high-grade recycled feedstock?
Paweł Rutecki: We source both pre-consumer scrap — production scrap from our customers or suppliers — and post-consumer scrap that comes from end-oflife products. Building long-term partnerships with customers and recycling companies allows us to create true closed-loop systems, where aluminium can be recycled again and again with minimal loss of quality. A key challenge lies in maintaining the precise chemical composition of alloys while increasing recycled content. Our products are used in demanding applications in the automotive, building and construction, and packaging industries, where alloy purity directly affects mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and surface quality. To manage this, we continuously invest in melt treatment, and metal analysis technologies. These help us secure a stable supply of high-grade, well-sorted scrap that meets tight specifications, ensuring that recycled aluminium can deliver the same — or even better — performance as primary metal.
AL Circle: What share of your energy consumption is currently from renewable sources (or under long-term PPA)? What is your target by 2030?
Paweł Rutecki: In 2024, around 23% of Gränges’ total energy consumption came from renewable sources, and this share is steadily increasing. Some of our European sites already operate largely on renewable electricity — for example, our plant in Finspång (Sweden) runs on 100% hydropower, and in Konin (Poland), around 82% of our electricity comes from renewable sources through Guarantees of Origin. Our long-term target is clear: 100% renewable electricity by 2030 across all Gränges operations globally. This is one of the cornerstones of our net-zero plan and a key lever for achieving our 2030 targets.
To read the complete interview, tap here.
