Be it clean-energy investments or shifting power-generation targets to strategic recycling alliances and evolving mining frameworks, the aluminium value chain is in a phase of rapid transformation across major markets. Fresh developments in sustainability, supply security, technology upgrades and regional policy shifts are setting the tone for 2025–26, signalling a landscape where upstream, midstream and downstream players may need to rethink their competitive footing.
Weekly Sustainability & Recycled AL recap by AL Circle Pvt Ltd
{alcircleadd}Clean energy investment driving aluminium demand
The US, in Q3 2025, has recorded a total investment of USD 75 billion in clean energy. The rise in investment is owed to a significant increase in electric vehicle adoption, a boom in solar power and a growing demand for aluminium. Quarter-on-quarter, the surge is deemed to be 9 per cent and the year-on-year rise is recorded to be 8 per cent. This growth is directly influencing manufacturing like solar modules, batteries and EV parts, industrial and energy infrastructure, including solar farms, energy storage and emissions reduction and retail trends, such as EV purchases, rooftop solar installations, home batteries and heat pumps. Learn more.
Two recent analyses reveal India’s rising demand for aluminium and the changing energy landscape of the region. Long-term forecasts indicate domestic demand for aluminium will expand by 80 per cent by 2025 in comparison to 2020. The surge will be mainly fueled by increased urbanisation, rising building & construction projects and a growing reliance on aluminium in areas like transportation, construction, and renewable energy. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Power is aiming for 68 per cent of installed generation capacity by 2032, while the country’s energy policy is undergoing a significant shift.
Circularity Push: New aluminium recycling initiative
20-13 aluminium recycling initiative, which has been recently launched by Alspec in collaboration with Alspex and Rio Tinto, enables a better step towards promoting circularity and sustainability within Australia’s aluminium sector. Within this initiative, every aluminium waste and scraps which are produced from the manufacturing of Alspec and Alspex are collected and sent to Rio Tinto’s Boyne Smelters Limited for remelting. These scraps are further converted into the high-quality billets containing at least 20 per cent recycled aluminium, which are returned to Alspex, extruded into new profiles and supplied to fabricators and manufacturers.
The Alused company received approval to set up a new recycled-aluminium plant in Nevinnomyssk, in Russia’s Stavropol Territory. This facility will process nearly 2 thousand tonnes of aluminium scrap each year, which will be sourced from recycled waste from the aluminium industry. For further details about the plant, click here.
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Europe strengthens recycling of small aluminium packaging
The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) is joining hands with Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) to set up a European alliance aimed at one particular objective. This objective is to boost the recycling efficiency for small aluminium packaging, like coffee capsules. With this partnership and the initiative, creating the right conditions for effective collection, sorting and high-quality, scalable recycling of these packaging types throughout Europe is significantly possible. For further details of the scoop, click here.
Scrap exemptions safeguard secondary producers in US & EU
The US scrap metal was intentionally removed from the broad tariffs placed on primary aluminium, protecting the secondary smelters that depend on duty-free recycled materials. Similarly, the EU is keeping recycled aluminium scrap exempt from carbon costs through its emissions-pricing system under CBAM. This safeguards the secondary aluminium sector, which relies heavily on scrap by nearly 75-80 per cent of its production. Get the complete picture here.
Sustainability in operations & backward integration in solar manufacturing
In a significant push towards sustainable operations, Vedanta expanded its lithium-ion electric forklift fleet to 142 units across Odisha and Chhattisgarh facilities. Doubling its previous totals, this move is one of the remarkable sustainability pushes of the country’s biggest aluminium producer, further strengthening its position with India’s largest electric forklift fleet. The announcement coincides with World Sustainable Transport Day on November 26, an annual UN observance that highlights the importance of safe, accessible and environmentally responsible transport networks to support socio-economic development in the coming years.
Pahal Solar is eyeing to push backward integration to expand its solar panel module components portfolio. The company aims to augment its product range as well as manufacturing capabilities to strengthen the domestic supply chain for solar module components in line with the demand growth. This shift is also aligned with the broader industry trend of reducing import dependence and improving production stability. Know more.
A new solar power plant project has surfaced by Talum, an aluminium producer of up to 60 MW overall, aiming to evolve utility-scale solar in Slovenia rapidly. In this region, the photovoltaic (PV) facilities, which are installed by households and firms, account for nearly the entire operational capacity of 1.5 GW. The firm is looking forward to indulging itself in a project for installing the largest solar power plant in place of its two closed waste landfills located in Kidričevo, which is valid in terms of the environmental permits.
Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics
Cultural & environmental governance reinforced in mining
Norsk Hydro celebrates its 120th birthday on December 2, 2025. The leading aluminium and renewable energy company celebrates the fruit of collaboration among Kristian Birkeland, Sam Eyde and Marcus Wallenberg while taking the world a big step closer to sustainability. What had been initially founded as Norwegian Hydro-Electric Kvælstofaktieselskab eventually transformed into Hydro in the course of time, and in this scenario, over a century. To dig deeper into the story, click here.
KNAC and Rio Tinto have updated their 2011 native-title framework, fundamentally changing how mining operations will take place on Nyiyaparli Country. These are deemed to be home for both the current and proposed mining projects, like the Hope Downs mine and the Rhodes Ridge project. As signed on November 28, way past the collaborative years, the legislation has introduced stronger cultural-heritage and environmental protections, which require more timely and consistent community consultations and transparency in decision-making for future mining developments.
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