Founders present Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) at World Conservation Congress

The Global Business and Biodiversity Programme of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) today presented to its members at the World Conservation Congress, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) - a unique aluminium value chain initiative that will create the first Responsible Aluminium Standard. IUCN, in its role of co-ordinator, has catalysed this initiative with leadership from fellow founding members Nespresso, Rio Tinto Alcan, AMAG, Amcor Flexibles, Constantia Flexibles, Constellium and Tetra Pak - all industry leaders in their own right.

On behalf of all of ASI founders, IUCN, Nespresso and Rio Tinto Alcan presented the ASI and called on organizations producing and using aluminium to join the initiative and help drive performance across the industry. The ethical, environmental and social performance criteria that will compose this new standard are expected to be defined by 2014, following multi-stakeholder consultation to ISEAL specifications. Once defined and publicly launched, the expectation is that aluminium industry organizations will want to adopt these criteria to produce, use or re-use aluminium.

"Aluminium is one of the most important global consumer and industrial metals and one of the earth's most abundant natural resources. A truly sustainable future must include a transparent and responsible role for those who mine, process, use and re-use aluminium in their consumer and industrial products," said Gerard Bos, Head, Global Business and Biodiversity Programme of IUCN. The initiative seeks to mobilise a broad base of industry participation and civil society consultation.

"The ASI is designed to maximise the value that aluminium generates across the value chain while minimising its impacts," said Gordon Hamilton, Vice President, Primary Metal Sales & Marketing, Rio Tinto Alcan. "Rio Tinto Alcan is excited to be a co-founder of the ASI, which aims to bring together producers, manufacturers, end-users of all sizes and sectors, and members of civil society, to contribute equally to the definition of the first Standard”, Hamilton continued.

"Aluminium as a material is indispensable for guaranteeing the quality of our exceptional coffee. Moreover aluminium is indefinitely recyclable. That is why we make it easy for our consumers to return their used aluminium capsules - either through national schemes or our own collection system," commented Richard Girardot, CEO of Nestlé Nespresso SA. "Even as a relatively small user of aluminium, we see the next stage of our commitment to aluminium sustainability as playing an active part in the ASI multi-stakeholder process together with our partners."