“The cosmetics industry increasingly embraces aluminium packaging, particularly for its sustainability benefits,” Dr. Ing. Catalina Fernandez, Director of CINDAL (Aludium R&D Centre).

Dr. Ing. Catalina Fernandez is the Director of CINDAL (Aludium R&D Centre). She is at the forefront of innovation in aluminium-rolled products (FRPs) and plays a pivotal role in driving sustainability initiatives at Aludium. Her background in metallurgy and materials science, along with her passion for environmental stewardship, has allowed her to combine technical expertise with a vision for a greener future for the aluminium industry. In this interview, she shares her insights into the modern world of aluminium FRPs, focusing on the importance of recyclability and third-party verification to prevent greenwashing while exploring the role of aluminium in markets such as packaging, automotive, and construction.

AL Circle: Could you begin by giving us an overview of your experience and how it shapes your work at Aludium?

Dr Catalina Fernandez: Thank you! I’ve been fortunate to work in the aluminium industry for more than 30 years, starting as a materials scientist and gradually transitioning into leadership roles. My work at CINDAL allows me to oversee the research and development of aluminium-rolled products, working closely with our customers and ensuring that we’re creating materials that meet the evolving needs of various industries. The focus has always been on innovation, but sustainability has become the driving force behind our efforts. The recyclability of aluminium and our commitment to reducing carbon emissions are central to our strategy at Aludium, where we have reduced 37 % emissions compared to 2019 after the investments in our casthouse.

AL Circle: Let’s discuss that focus on sustainability. Aluminium is often lauded for its recyclability, but could you explain how it specifically affects the production of rolled products?

Dr Catalina Fernandez:  One of aluminium's most significant advantages is its infinite recyclability, which makes it ideal for enhancing the circular economy. In the production of rolled products, we use both primary aluminium and recycled material. The beauty of this process is that using recycled aluminium requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminium from bauxite. This translates to a massive reduction in carbon emissions, making it a truly sustainable material and aligning with customer expectations for greener solutions, particularly in the automotive, construction, and packaging industries.

AL Circle: Speaking of customer expectations, the issue of greenwashing has become a major concern across many industries. How do you ensure that your sustainability claims are credible and not just marketing?

Dr Catalina Fernandez: That’s an excellent point, and it’s something we take very seriously. Greenwashing, or the act of making misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product or practice can undermine trust and damage company’s reputation. To prevent this, we rely on third-party verification for our sustainability claims. This means that any calculations on the carbon footprint of our products, the percentage of recycled content, or energy savings are independently audited and verified by an external body. This commitment to transparency and sustainability has allowed us the launch of ECO^® brand: a range of products with significantly low embodied emissions and high recycling content. Read the full interview here.