Rio Tinto’s integrated aluminium facilities in Canada first receives ASI certification

The announcement of the first Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certification, bagged by Rio Tinto’s integrated aluminium facilities in Quebec, Canada and Northern Territory, Australia, for meeting the industry’s highest standards in respect to environmental, social and governance practices across the aluminium lifecycle has taken the internet by storm.

Rio Tinto's five aluminium smelters, the Vaudreuil refinery, casting and spent potlining treatment centres and associated infrastructure such as power, port and railway facilities in Quebec, Canada, along with the Gove bauxite mine in Australia have received the award.

Rio Tinto was also the first founding member of the ASI, the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain to ensure robust environmental, social and governance practices across the aluminium value chain including production, use and recycling.

Being the first company to receive the honour, Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said "We expect responsible aluminium production will become increasingly important for our customers and the consumers who buy their products.”

He further said, "Rio Tinto is proud to take this pioneering step as the first company to achieve ASI certification, which continues our industry leadership on sustainability and responsible production as we work closely with customers to meet their needs. We launched the first certified low carbon aluminium, RenewAl™, in 2016 and produce some of the best quality, lowest carbon footprint aluminium in the world at our Canadian smelters.”

Following the award, Rio Tinto will now work closely with the ASI on audits and certifications for other sites in its global aluminium business.

Rio Tinto Aluminium vice president sales and marketing and ASI Board member Tolga Egrilmezer said "As a founding member of the ASI, Rio Tinto has helped to drive responsible production standards for the aluminium industry alongside customers and a broad range of stakeholders”, added to which he also commented, "We expect to see growing demand for ASI certified products from end users and customers seeking to demonstrate a responsible supply chain."

Chief Executive Officer at ASI Fiona Soloma has also congratulated Rio Tinto on being the first company to receive this historic recognition, followed which he commented “ the ultimate value of ASI lies in broad uptake throughout the aluminium value chain, and we are poised to increase momentum in both membership growth and certifications during 2018.”