Electronic Recyclers International and Alcoa Address Business School at The Ohio State University

John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation's leading recycler of electronic waste, joined Kevin Kramer, President of Growth Initiatives for Alcoa, the world's leading aluminum producer, last night for a guest lecture on the benefits of sustainable business and innovative collaboration at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.

In the lecture, Shegerian and Kramer explained to the packed room of enthusiastic business students their shared story of how their companies have been able to focus on the power of collaboration to achieve sustainability goals -- and to create a mutually beneficial relationship that serves as a new and growing model of sustainability. Consumer electronics has become a fast-growing market for aluminum -- used in everything from tablets to smart phones -- and Alcoa had decided to take a holistic look at its operations and realized there might be a more sustainable and cost-effective way to meet demand -- which led to partnering with ERI.

The two speakers explained how by working with ERI, Alcoa is able to improve aluminum's role on both ends of the sustainability spectrum -- starting with smelting and ending with the recycling, reuse and remanufacture of the aluminum used in electronic goods. Alcoa now sources its infinitely recyclable aluminum from the waste stream and saves the energy and resources -- financial and environmental -- required to create virgin aluminum.