Europe’s recycled aluminium industry is an important component of the global secondary aluminium supply chain, with Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) representing key national markets. Production across the European region stood at nearly 6 million tonnes in 2023, supported by established scrap recovery systems, industrial recycling capacity and demand for recycled metal. Russia also contributes to the regional landscape through secondary aluminium production units concentrated in several industrial centres. According to AL Circle’s analysis in its report, “ World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast ”, the four countries present different market structures, from Germany’s substantial recycling capacity and Italy’s scrap-based production to the UK’s organised...
According to SMM survey statistics, the operating rate of the secondary aluminium alloy industry in September was 35.0 per cent, up 3.1 percentage points M-o-M but down 6.7 percentage points Y-o-Y. Industry production continued its recovery trend, but the overall operating level remained below the same period last year. On the demand side, September marked the traditional peak consumption season, with downstream orders recovering from August. End-use demand from automobiles and other sectors improved marginally, but the peak season effect has yet to fully materialise. According to CAAM data, automobile production in September was 2.99 million units, up 11.4 per cent M-o-M but down 8.7 per cent Y-o-Y. NEV production was 1.814 million units, up 12.2 per cent Y-o-Y. CAAM noted that China's...
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Novelis Korea Limited, the Asia-Pacific operating unit of Novelis Inc., has won the South Korean Prime Minister’s 2013 Leading Resource Recycling Corporation Award. The award was presented at the Fifth Annual Resource Recycling Day, hosted by the Ministry of Environment at Hwaseong Temporary Palace of Suwon, South Korea. The award, introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Korea Environment Corporation (KECO), is designed to recognize “eco-friendly companies that have taken proactive measures in preventing industrial waste through improved manufacturing processes and innovative green technology as well as reduction of actual waste produced by recycling and increased productivity.” The award recognizes Novelis for its efforts to minimize its environmental footprint, including aluminum...
The second annual Sustainability Report presents latest environmental, human, CSR, safety and training developments within Qatalum. Qatalum has released its second annual Sustainability Report. Entitled “Harnessing the Sustainable Potential of Aluminium”, it builds on actual field data collected at Qatalum and includes data from last year’s report “Our Sustainable Journey”, in detailing the company’s approach, perspective and progress following international standards of sustainability indicators. Within the report, which celebrates a nine-year journey towards a prosperous and responsible future, Qatalum has presented its baseline sustainability approach covering the company’s most material issues. With this second report, the focus has broadened in line with Qatalum’s growing...
As one of the leading global beverage can makers, Rexam is committed to supporting recycling in its local communities. To that end, the Rexam Chicago office recently hosted its third annual "Cans for Cash recycling event to promote recycling and raise money for charity. Rexam partnered with United Scrap Metal, a local recycler, and was supported by other key partners including Novelis, Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. and Wise Alloys. More than 3,200 pounds of aluminum cans, twice as many as last year, were collected at the weekend event which also raised approximately $2,000 for local charities. Last year, the charity total reached about $1,000. Aluminum cans are the most valuable package to recycle, as American consumers earn more than $1 billion annually in recycling proceeds. And they are...
Key Stage Three pupils (11-14 year olds) are being invited to take up the Alu Design & Technology (D&T) Challenge, a national competition encouraging students to think about the importance of sustainable design, using aluminium. Returning for its second year the exciting competition is part of a free, flexible D&T online teaching resource developed by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) in partnership with the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) and leading aluminium recycler Novelis UK. The competition has been endorsed by the Design & Technology Association (DATA). Aiming to communicate the recycling message to the next generation whilst also educating students about the incredible properties and sustainability potential of aluminium - an infinitely recyclable material -...
In view of the upcoming discussions on the guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes, the European Aluminium Industry (EAA) calls for a consistent approach at the EU and national level. The EAA has always been a strong proponent of an ambitious EU packaging recovery policy and more ambitious recycling targets. However the current Packaging Waste Directive has led to a situation where different types of recovery schemes – public, private or mixed systems - have shown strengths and weaknesses in their ability to recover packaging material from different waste holder categories, being households and non-households. “If we are serious about recycling, we must considerably improve general performance level of all EPR in Europe and learn from best in class. The guidelines for...
European secondary aluminium prices stayed flat on Friday September 13, as low London Metal Exchange prices continued to hinder any price increases that would otherwise spring from strong demand. “We thought prices would rise with increased demand, but they have remained stable for a long time,” one producer said. “When we offer, we have to offer at the same level,” he added. DIN226 pressure diecasting ingot stayed at €1,800-1,860 per tonne. Sellers reported strong demand for volumes even over those already booked for the fourth quarter. “Even those that have already bought for the fourth quarter are coming back for additional quantities,” a second producer said, pointing to the strong vehicles market as the source of much of the additional demand. “We have good expectations for next year...
A new curriculum, being developed by JASON Learning and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), will educate America's school children on the importance of recycling and the physics, chemistry and engineering behind it. "This partnership will show students how a career in science, technology or engineering can be put to use in the most practical way to make things that people need while at the same time conserving our natural resources," says ISRI President Robin K. Wiener. "America in general and our industry in particular need more workers trained in science, technology, engineering and math." Many classes will visit scrap and recycling yards after learning about the science and technology behind it.
UK aluminium scrap prices fell on Wednesday September 11, prompted by low London Metal Exchange prices that have shackled secondary aluminium and aluminium scrap prices throughout the summer. “There is no doubt that prices would be higher if not for low LME aluminium prices,” a secondary aluminium ingot producer said. In the pure grades, group 1 99% & litho and clean HE9 extrusions both fell to £1,080-1,130 ($1,696-1,775) per tonne from £1,100-1,150 previously, while commercial pure cuttings reached £1,010-1,060 from £1,030-1,080. In the commercial grades, loose old rolled cuttings edged down to £820-850 per tonne from £830-850; baled old rolled fell to £920-950 from £940-970; commercial cast slipped to £980-1020 per tonne from £990-1030; cast wheels reached £1,080-1,130 per tonne from...
The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) is seeking local authority (LA) partners for its ‘You Can Leave Your Cap On’ campaign. The project, launched in association with British Glass and the European Aluminium Foil Association in July 2013, seeks to encourage householders to recycle metal bottle caps and closures by screwing them back on their bottles before recycling. Alupro says the most effective way to recycle the caps and closures is through the glass recycling system. This is to combat what Alupro says is a lack of end-user communications on aluminium cap and closure recycling, which it claims has resulted in a loss of approximately 5,000 tonnes of recyclable material, worth over £2 million. The group now says it is looking to partner with a number of new LAs, in...
Nespresso has extended its sustainability commitments in the Middle East with the launch of its first program to recycle its used aluminium capsules in the UAE. Thanks to this new recycling program, Nespresso Club Members and consumers will be able to easily return their used Nespresso capsules for recycling in dedicated collection points through the network of Nespresso Boutiques across the UAE. In addition, Nespresso will offer the innovative service “Recycling at Home”, a pick-up service that conveniently collects used capsules directly from consumers’ homes when a new order is delivered. Professional customers, such as offices, hotels and restaurants that serve Nespresso Grand Cru coffees, will also benefit from the used capsules pick-up service. Speaking about the launch of the first...
UK aluminium scrap sellers have slashed the volumes they export into India following a sharp fall in the value of the rupee, with some reporting falls of up to 90% by volume. “The amount we export into India is at its lowest in five years, and that is exclusively driven by the currency killing imports,” one scrap dealer said. “Our exports to India are now down 80-90% from a couple of years ago.” The Indian rupee was trading at more than Rs105 to the pound sterling last week, from just above Rs80 in May. According to UK export statistics, aluminium scrap exports to India fell in June from highs in May and April, reaching around the same levels as in March and February. But sources expect significant falls for July and August. “August and September will be the ones to watch,” a trader said....
On the occasion of the closing of the public consultation on the review of the EU Waste management targets, the European Aluminium Association (EAA) urges the Commission to improve the EU waste rules and increase the availability of scrap for the European recycling industry. The aluminium sector is already the European recycling champion with end- of-life recycling rates above 90% in transport and construction and close to 70% for beverage cans. Aluminium recycling is critical to sustainable development as it saves material resources as well as energy, reduces waste, and helps aluminium producers to continue to supply metal within Europe at a time when primary production is declining. Gerd Götz, Director General EAA: "The aluminium industry contributes since its existence to a resource...
As plans for the new iPhone 5S and 5C are expected to be announced today at Apple’s Media Day, a new online poll conducted by Earth911 for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) finds that nearly 60 percent of the people who do not recycle old cell phones fail to do so because they either do not know where to recycle them or don’t trust that personal data will be destroyed. The results of this poll were released at the annual E-Scrap Conference, a gathering of more than 1,000 electronics recyclers, being held this week in Orlando. “As people anxiously await the arrival of the latest iPhone, it is important to keep in mind the need to recycle old cell phones,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “The results of this poll fall in line with the recent report by the U.S....
The award was introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Korea Environment Corporation and recognizes leading eco-friendly companies that have taken proactive measures in preventing industrial waste through improved manufacturing processes and innovative green technology as well as reduction of actual waste produced by recycling and increased productivity. The contest began in April, and Novelis was announced as one of the winners after four months of evaluation. The award recognizes Novelis for its comprehensive efforts to minimize its environmental footprint, including aluminum recycling, resource conservation and carbon emission reduction. Novelis’ Yeongju Plant, located in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is striving to cut the use of resources by utilizing the waste heat from its...
With the start of the new school year, millions of children will have the opportunity to learn the science of recycling thanks to a new partnership between the scrap recycling industry and JASON Learning. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and JASON Learning have worked together to develop real-world school curricula to help teachers and students understand both the importance of recycling and the applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the STEM subjects) in the recycling industry. Through the curriculum, students will learn how the industry employs physics, chemistry and advanced engineering to sort, separate, and shred metals, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics and paper for re-use as commodities in manufacturing. Many classes will see STEM in...
European secondary aluminium prices remained stable on Friday September 6, with both ingot and scrap values being shackled by low London Metal Exchange aluminium prices. DIN226 gravity diecasting ingot stayed at €1,800-1,860 ($2,371-2,450) per tonne. Ingot producers reported good-volume sales for the fourth quarter, while scrap supply was hit by the cessation of imports from the UK owing to a weak euro. Sources said that aluminium prices will rise significantly next year only if the cuts in aluminium capacity continue. “If you shut capacity then the price goes up,” a consumer said. “But it takes time for the decrease in capacity to influence prices. With the oversupply in the market I don’t see aluminium prices going up for two to three months.” Several thousand tonnes of secondary...
UK secondary aluminium prices stayed flat on Wednesday September 4, with unfavourable currency rates and low London Metal Exchange (LME) prices preventing any increases for both ingot and aluminium scrap. LM24 pressure diecasting ingot continued to trade at £1,520-1,570 ($2,364-2,442) per tonne, while LM6/LM25 gravity diecasting ingot stayed at £1,720-1,780 per tonne. Demand remains strong, with producers unable to meet all the enquiries they receive. “We have a lot of contract business, and with the huge amount of enquiries we’ve had we’ve not been able to quote for a lot of people,” a producer said. “Many people are coming in for the fourth quarter, and we’re putting prices out there.” But prices have not moved despite the high demand, which sources put down to several factors. First...
Alcoa today announced it will combine its group charged with recycling aluminum in the packaging market, Evermore Recycling, with its aluminum scrap purchasing group which recycles aluminum used in other markets such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial into a single organization -- “Alcoa Recycling” – to further increase the amount of aluminum that is converted back into new products. Across its used beverage container (UBC’s) and aluminum scrap groups, Alcoa recycled approximately 1.4 billion pounds of external aluminum in 2012. By combining the two groups into Alcoa Recycling, the company will be able to leverage their strengths and go to the market in a singular, focused manner, said Michael Boyle, Director of Metal Management at Alcoa who will oversee the combined group. “The...
