Novelis: First US-based aluminium manufacturer to bag the Sustainability Lighthouse honour

Novelis, the world's largest recycler of aluminium, has been a driving force in advancing circularity and decarbonising the aluminium industry to foster a more sustainable future. This week, Novelis' Uhrichsville plant achieved a significant milestone by being recognised as a Sustainability Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). As the first U.S.-based aluminium manufacturer to earn this distinction, Novelis is proud to join the ranks of visionary industry leaders transforming global sustainability practices.

Image Source: World Economic Forum

Achieving an industry-leading 97 per cent recycled content

The Novelis facility in Uhrichsville, Ohio, home to 400 dedicated employees, has earned this prestigious recognition by achieving an industry-leading 97 per cent recycled content in its 3105 alloy. Widely used in speciality products for the Building & Construction market, this milestone significantly reduces dependence on energy-intensive primary aluminium production.

"Across our Global Lighthouse Network, digital technologies are revolutionising production ecosystems. From AI-driven control towers to zero-code workflows, Lighthouses exemplify sustainable innovation, setting benchmarks millions can follow to drive transformational change across the entire ecosystem. We believe becoming a member of the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network demonstrates Novelis' industry leadership, invaluable partnerships, advanced technologies, sustainable practices at scale and adaptability to the ever-evolving landscape. ," said Kiva Allgood, Head of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, World Economic Forum.

Strong commitment to circularity

Guided by a strong commitment to circularity, the facility leverages advanced recycling, scrap segregation, melting, casting, and rolling technologies alongside innovative procurement strategies and IT solutions. Additionally, the Uhrichsville plant holds GreenCircle Certification, providing third-party verification of its sustainability achievements.

Aluminium's infinite recyclability makes it a cornerstone of a sustainable future, and at Novelis, it holds the key to creating a lighter, greener, simpler, and safer world. Recycling aluminium dramatically lowers the environmental and economic impacts tied to the extraction and use of non-renewable resources, including significant reductions in carbon emissions and landfill waste.

Joining the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network highlights Novelis' position as an industry leader, showcasing its commitment to fostering valuable partnerships, leveraging advanced technologies, and scaling sustainable practices. This achievement underscores Novelis' adaptability and innovation in an ever-changing landscape.

Global Lighthouse Network

The Global Lighthouse Network, established by the World Economic Forum, represents a community of manufacturers pioneering the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. These leaders drive transformative improvements across factories, value chains, and business models, achieving significant financial, operational, and sustainability performance advancements.

According to the Global Lighthouse Network, Sustainability Lighthouses are addressing supply chain risks and increasing demand for lifecycle sustainability by closely examining their product portfolios and stewardship of value chains. They are adopting advanced strategies to enhance sustainability, such as leveraging data platforms for end-to-end visibility and intelligence, utilising tools for rapid product design, and implementing circularity solutions to minimise lifecycle emissions.