Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities. Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors. “We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international...
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Electricity is one of the key inputs for an aluminium smelter, requiring around 13,000 to 17,000 kWh for one tonne (1000 kg) of production. So, the more electric supply, the better it is for any primary aluminium producer; and if it is a hydro or green energy supply, then the best it is for sustainability goals. Aluminerie Alouette Inc., a large aluminium smelter located in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada, partially owned by AMAG Austria Metall AG, has reportedly secured a long-term power contract from the state-owned Hydro-Québec, charting the path to greener production amp up. The news surfaced after the Alouette and Hydro-Québec signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing on supplying 1,035 MW of electricity from January 1, 2030, to December 31, 2045. In addition, 50 MW, divided into two...
With sustainability becoming the core of every industry, Vedanta Aluminium, the world's leading aluminium producer, has taken a bold step that not only helps to uphold sustainability but also empowers women in the metal industry. Currently, the firm is on the road to establishing a one-of-a-kind women-led fly ash brick manufacturing facility, which shall aid in producing almost one crore bricks annually. The firm has taken this initiative by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Subhalaxmi Cooperative to set up the facility in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Image source: IndiaMART Subhalaxmi Cooperative, which is deemed to be India's largest rural women's cooperative, would be supplied with fly ash by Vedanta Aluminium at no cost, which would be sourced from Vedanta's mega aluminium...
Crown Holdings, a global force in metal packaging, is forging ahead on its sustainability journey with the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report, ‘Built To Last.’ The report showcases the US-based company’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, circularity, and responsible growth. From cutting carbon emissions and conserving water to minimising waste and enhancing workplace safety, Crown is making measurable strides across its operations. Central to this progress is its ambitious Twentyby30 program, which sets 20 concrete sustainability goals for 2030 including slashing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43 per cent from 2019 levels and transitioning to 75 per cent renewable energy. With investments in on-site renewables and off-site power purchase agreements, Crown is proving...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has yet again outperformed and achieved a new safe working hours milestone for June 2025. The Bahrain-based company, also known as the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter, has demonstrated steady growth and progress in ensuring the safety of its workers across every layer of its operations. As of June 27 2025, the company has unlocked 37 million safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI), surpassing last year's number (20 million without LTI as data published on June 22). This remarkable accomplishment reinforces Alba's unwavering commitment to maintaining a safe, healthy, and resilient workplace for both its employees and contractor workforce. If we delve deeper, on May 8, 2025, Alba recorded 35 million safe working hours without LTI,...
In today's sustainability-driven world, the demand for eco-friendly materials is higher than ever, and this is where aluminium emerges as the leading character. Renowned for its strength, versatility, and infinite recyclability, aluminium is emerging as a game-changer in the push for greener solutions. But what truly sets it apart and how is innovation transforming its role in the modern world? Enter Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium giant, with its flagship initiative called the Hydro CIRCAL. Made with a minimum of 75 per cent post-consumer recycled aluminium scrap, Hydro CIRCAL is an eco-friendly choice that slashes carbon emissions compared to conventional aluminium production. And this flagship product will now be widely available in the United States , making it a powerful solution for...
Sustainability isn't fading away, it is evolving. With smart material choices and a data-driven strategy, aluminium and other circular materials can help the brand lead the pack, meeting consumer expectations while also saving the planet. And this is what McKinsey & Company's newly published report, titled 'Sustainability in packaging 2025: Inside the minds of global consumers,' highlights. The report also revealed notable generational and socioeconomic differences in how consumers view sustainable packaging. The report stated that younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials, are generally more willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging. This trend is particularly evident among higher-income groups. For instance, in Germany, 25 per cent of high-income Gen Z respondents...
Bangladesh successfully begins its photovoltaic (PV) solar module exports to the US-based CleanGrid Incorporation by collaborating with Dhaka-based Radiant Alliance Ltd to ship 64.6 megawatts (MW). Bangladesh, which used to be an importer, has now begun exporting. Is this an indication of a greater manufacturing structure and growing competitiveness in the global market? Radiant Alliance Ltd produces passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules using solar cells from Indonesia and Laos for its 6000 MW factory. This is the first consignment sent by the firm to the US-based CleanGrid Incorporation, which had ordered a total of 64.60 MW. Radiant Alliance assembled 100 W PERC and 200 W TOPCon for the 600 MW factory in Ashulia, near Dhaka, for order...
Hydro Extrusions has once again earned recertification under the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 following a rigorous audit by DNV Assurance Services UK Ltd. With this, the ASI certification number for Hydro now rests at 74. This global recognition reinforces Hydro Extrusions' position as a leader in sustainable aluminium solutions. Additionally, over three-quarters of Hydro Extrusions' sites are already certified under ASI's Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard. Hydro Extrusions has once again earned recertification under the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 following a rigorous audit by DNV Assurance Services UK Ltd. With this, the ASI certification number for Hydro now rests at 74. Valid through the end of May 2028, this milestone highlights Hydro's continued commitment to the responsible...
In the Green Metals Innovation Network (GMIN), the Australian Government has funded a USD 10 million initiative to enhance the collaboration in industry research. It would help Australia’s ambition of achieving the lead position in the production of green metals with the Green Metals Innovation Network (GMIN). Green metals are mainly comprised of metals that are sustainably produced, like iron, steel, alumina, and aluminium. Image source: LinkedIn The 'Team Australia' approach is led by CSIRO, which is Australia’s national science agency, along with HILT CRC (Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre) and GMIN, which would help in the development of green metals in Australia’s aluminium sector. The nation’s economy in the future will mainly revolve around the...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Nemak Dillingen GmbH and Nemak Dillingen Casting GmbH & Co. KG have been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022). The certified operations produce aluminium components for the automotive industry, including engine blocks and e-engine housings. Production processes at the site include core package systems with gravity casting, heat treatment, and further processing. The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022 following a multi-year revision process. It defines 11 principles and 62...
Oman Aluminium Processing Industries SPC’s (OAPIL) commitment to ethical production has now been independently validated. It has recently achieved certification for the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative's (ASI) Performance Standard V3.1 (2023). This high-profile certification covers the company’s Sohar Industrial Park facility, which is a pillar of Oman's industrialisation. The scope of the certification covers OAPIL's major activities: manufacturing of aluminium rods and overhead line conductors. These are major materials used for the global power transmission sector. The factory has an annual capacity of producing 56,000 tonnes of aluminium rods and some 22,000 kilometres of overhead conductors, with clients in over 45 countries. This certification adds to the many OAPIL has already...
Every Can Counts, a not-for-profit recycling initiative, announced that it collected more than 25,000 aluminium drink cans during the Download Festival held at Donington Park from June 10-14. Image credit: everycancounts.eu Festivalgoers were actively encouraged throughout the weekend to recycle their packaging responsibly and avoid single-use plastics. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of proper recycling and sustainability practices. In a celebratory Facebook post, Every Can Counts shared highlights from their successful campaign at the Download Festival, expressing appreciation to festivalgoers for their enthusiastic participation. “Download Festival, you absolutely smashed it,” the post began, as the organisation recapped an action-packed weekend dedicated to...
In the red-dust heartland of Lanjigarh, India, where bauxite is transformed into smelter-grade alumina, Vedanta Aluminium is quietly scripting a different kind of transformation, and this time, not in the refinery, but in how industry reimagines waste. At the Lanjigarh plant, a spirited scrap art sculpture competition recently unfolded. Image source: Youtube (Krishna Tech & Electri) Hosted by Vedanta Lanjigarh, a critical cog in Vedanta Aluminium’s downstream value chain, a competition invited employees and business partners to team up and repurpose industrial scrap into striking works of art. Not a mere display of aesthetic flair, each sculpture, curated and created under the leadership of departmental heads, became a living testament to the plant’s ethos that sustainability isn’t a...
One year since its BRL 1.3 billion (USD 234 million) investment to phase out fuel oil and switch entirely to natural gas, Hydro’s Alunorte refinery in Pará, Brazil, has managed to cut a staggering 700 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The figure is not only a testament to the scale of the project but also a signal to the rest of the global alumina industry that real decarbonisation milestones are achievable — if backed by strategic foresight, capital intensity, and infrastructure reform. Image for representational purposes only The fuel switch at Alunorte involved converting six steam-generation units and seven calciners to operate fully on natural gas. To make this feasible in a relatively underdeveloped energy corridor, Hydro partnered with New Fortress Energy, which...
Beiersdorf has completed the expansion of its production centre in Poznań, Poland, following a €300 million investment. The project has doubled the facility’s capacity and generated over 200 new jobs, positioning the Poznań site as one of the most strategic and advanced manufacturing hubs within the DAX Group’s global production network. The addition of six advanced, fully automated production lines and a cutting-edge microbiology laboratory boosts the site’s annual production capacity to 500 million units. Supporting Beiersdorf’s net-zero emission goal This initiative is also expected to support Beiersdorf’s wider sustainability strategy, which includes increasing the use of recycled aluminium in products like NIVEA and other packaging formats. A key step toward Beiersdorf’s goal of...
In a recent breakthrough for industrial decarbonisation in the Global South, Brazil has secured USD 250 million in international climate financing to steer its transition to low-carbon manufacturing for five major focus sectors. The announcement, which was made by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) under its Clean Technology Fund, anoints Brazil as a frontrunner among emerging economies in charting a sustainable path for hard-to-abate sectors such as aluminium, cement, steel, chemicals, and fertilisers. Image for referential purposes only The funding will attract the formulation of a comprehensive investment plan led by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC). The plan will map out sector-specific interventions, financing instruments, and policy measures to...
Over the past four years, Alubar has successfully reduced its energy costs by over 15 per cent, with projections indicating a total reduction of 24 per cent by 2024. This significant improvement stems from the company’s strategic shift to purchasing energy directly from Brazil’s free energy market. By moving away from sole dependence on the regional distributor, as required in the captive market, Alubar gained the flexibility to negotiate directly with energy generators across the country. This approach lowered costs and enabled the company to choose energy sources that better reflect its environmental commitments while continuing to pay only for the use of the local distribution network. Alubar is one of the leading Brazilian manufacturer of aluminium electrical conductors and one of the...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), an Indian public sector company with diversified mining, power and metal operations, has bagged a highly decorated prestigious award in 2025 by tapping into various milestones. The award categories include sustainable mining, environmental excellence and workplace management. Image source: nalcoindia.com Award 1: Par Excellence 5S Award By collaborating with the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), the firm's Alumina Refinery, alongside the M&R Complex located in Koraput, Odisha, is provided with a 5S award under the "Par Excellence" category. This award was given by the Quality Circle Forum of India (OCFI) for effectively imposing the 5S Workplace Management System. Within this award, 5S indicates Sort, Set in order, Shine,...
