Japanese aluminium manufacturer UACJ Co Ltd has signed a 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution Co Ltd to supply renewable electricity to its Fukui Works. The 7.43 MW solar project in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is expected to deliver 8.5 GWh of electricity annually while reducing UACJ’s carbon dioxide emissions by 27,694 tonnes per year. Private-line solar supply to begin in November Under the agreement announced on October 26, 2026, Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution will supply UACJ’s Fukui Works through a dedicated 4.2 km private power line. The offsite solar plant has a capacity of 5 MWAC/7.43 MWDC, with electricity deliveries scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026. Built on a 75,197-square-metre site, equivalent to...
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...
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InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa has adopted the Mission Pacific Program to decrease the level of carbon dioxide throughout its business chain by responsibly collecting PET bottles or aluminium cans for recycling. Mission Pacific was launched by Coca-Cola Amatil (Fiji) Pte Ltd (CCAF) in 1999. The resort authorities wanted to ensure the used bottles and aluminium cans from their compound were directed to a proper recycling facility rather than ending up in landfills. The rules of the Mission Pacific Program demand PET and aluminium waste to be collected separately in huge trash bags, which the organisation then takes away to their primary Bottle Buy Back Centre in Kinoya for sorting and recycling purposes. The Area General Manager – of South Pacific, Lachlan Walker, notified how...
On April 4, 2023, Alcoa announced expanding the Company’s low-carbon alumina brand EcoSource™ to include specific grades of non-metallurgical alumina now. EcoSource is the world's first and only low-carbon alumina brand, first launched in 2020 for smelter-grade applications (SGA). It is now available in non-metallurgical (NMA) grades, such as hydrates and calcined materials. Hydrates are primarily used in municipal water treatment applications, whereas calcined materials are used in the production of ceramic tiles, glass, and flame retardants. Kelly Thomas, the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Alcoa, said, “Alcoa is the world’s largest producer of non-metallurgical alumina outside of China. We’re excited to expand our EcoSource brand to more customers as an...
The Netherlands is keen on expanding its deposit return scheme to include steel and aluminium beverage cans from April 1. As per the new guidelines, the recycling drive will accept any metal beverage container with a capacity of three litres and a deposit rate of €0.15. Supermarkets with an integrated area of 200m² and staffed petrol stations would host these collection points, usually situated near the highway, for uninterrupted logistical services. Other than that, multiplexes or sports grounds can also register for this recycling and collection drive. They can log in via Statiegeld Nederland to install these collection points at specific public locations. Rene Hissink, the senior vice-president of TOMRA Collection Western and Southern Europe, explained: “The expansion of the...
Vinette is now selling wines in aluminium beverage cans alongside its range of bottled and craft beers. The Vinette Wines in a can will be available in Singapore's uMart stores. Singapore will import Vinette Wines via V-Etico Services Pte Ltd, and they'll be available in five main varieties: Rosé, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sweet Sparkle Wine. The South African company might have opted for a sustainable packaging solution, but the canned Vinette Wines retain the actual aroma of the product. Vinette has been anointed with the Gold Medal by the globally acknowledged 'Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge'. Beverage cans are easier to carry and, therefore, perfect for backpackers and travellers. Usually, cans are made of the purest form of aluminium, which makes them 100%...
Hydro's Reynosa plant has been successfully registered against the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard. This can be considered Hydro's first ASI certification in Mexico. Hydro's Reynosa plant is situated on the southern edge of the Rio Grande River and employs over 320 heads. Since its inception in 2006, the plant has been going through a series of expansion projects, making it the most capable supplier of aluminium heat exchange solutions in the area. Hydro's Reynosa plant mainly serves the automotive or HVACR sector. Jeffrey L. Insalaco, the vice president responsible for Hydro 's aluminium tubing business in North America, exemplified: "The process leading to this achievement reflects a very strong collaboration between our local organization as well as the...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the joining of Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters (İDDMİB) as its new Associations member. The General Secretariat of the Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Association (İMMİB) established the Istanbul Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association (İDDMİB) in 1986. Incorporated in 1986, İDDMİB has 8000 subscribers as of 2022. Products made of aluminium, steel, copper, castings, hardware, metal kitchen and houseware, armatures, and building materials are a few of the primary industries İDDMİB operates in. Turkish Aluminium is the largest industry within the Turkish Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals segment, with a 43 per cent share of total exports as of 2022. “Being a part of ASI is seen as a good opportunity to...
Deep-tech recycling business Metastable Materials, which specialises in lithium-ion batteries, has received seed funding led by Surge, Sequoia Capital India, and Southeast Asia's quick scale-up programme. Deep-tech VC Speciale Invest, Theia Ventures, and other angel investors participated. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are used in millions of automobiles worldwide, and demand is growing fast daily. So, the US$4.6 billion Li-ion battery recycling market is anticipated to increase at least five times by 2030 as businesses look for an appropriate approach to manage Li-ion batteries that have reached the end of their useful lives. Additionally, many countries, including the EU, want to enact legislation to ensure that batteries can be recycled or reused after their useful lives. However,...
Sustainability is the most important aspect of a greener and cleaner environment. The global aluminium industry is taking every possible step towards a more sustainable atmosphere. Many companies, from liquor brands to cosmetic ranges, are moving towards aluminium for their unique attributes. To begin with, The Body Shop, a highly respected brand with headquarters in the UK, had increased its sustainable refill push to include a brand-new flagship product, the Peptalk Lipstick. The Peptalk Lipstick from The Body Shop comes packaged in a refillable aluminium container that is entirely recyclable. The Australian parliament approved progressive climate laws on March 30, 2023, targeting the worst polluters in the nation and requiring, among other things, coal mines, oil refineries, aluminium...
As part of a joint venture, Gränges and Shandong Innovation Metal (group) Technology are on the go for constructing a recycling and casting facility in Yunnan , a hydropower-rich area in China. However, it has also been confirmed that the joint venture has secured access to low-carbon primary aluminium through energy-efficient delivery from a nearby smelter and renewable energy for casting operations. In order to reach its 2040 net-zero goal, Gränges' carbon footprint will be significantly reduced thanks to this strategic alliance. Additionally, it will make it possible for Gränges to satisfy Asian customers' requests for industry-leading sustainable aluminium solutions. The latest industry-focused report, ‘Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023’ released by AlCircle, states China...
Three Blind Mice, an English craft brewer, has been tagging its flagship beverage cans with ‘not for sale in Scotland’ to deal with the deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland.The company blatantly devised this particular solution to avoid being fined under the Scotland DRS. The DRS , which was scheduled to be launched in August, requires the beverage brands to increase the price of their assorted drinks by 20p so that the same amount can be refunded on returning the used container. The Scotland DRS has been designed to accept one-time use plastic bottles and aluminium cans. The brewer was flustered by the fact that each drink type needs to be registered under the Scotland DRS with an initial fee of £350. Three Blind Mice brews small batches of specialist beers, and the company can't...
On March 30, 2023, the Australian parliament passed the progressive climate laws eyeing the countries' worst polluters, impelling aluminium smelters and alumina refineries, coal mines, and oil refineries, among others, to restrain emissions by about five per cent annually. The legislation, according to experts, marks the end of Australia's harsh "climate wars," a decade-long political scuffle that has repeatedly thwarted efforts to combat climate change. Tommy Wiedmann, the sustainability expert at the University of New South Wales, said, "It's the first time greenhouse gas emissions reduction has been written into Australian law. "That's obviously a good thing. We have a climate policy now." The legislation, which applies to 215 significant industrial units producing more than 100,000...
The CEO of AG Barr PLC, Roger White, has assessed that Scotland’s DRS is a “burden” that will drain “multiple millions” from the company but has no other way out than following the law. Mr White talked about his company that produces one of the UK’s most famous beverages, the Irn-Bru and the soft drink Rubicon. He seemed distressed that under this deposit return scheme, the company has to spend a fortune on packaging and distribution techniques against their will. Starting from August, each beverage container either plastic or aluminium would be sold at an increased rate of 20p, which would be refundable once the bottles are returned to the designated retail outlets. Many renowned beverage brands have already spent exponential amounts to prepare for Scotland’s DRS. AG Barr had recently...
The growing focus on a carbon-neutral world and the implementation of a circular economy has changed the course of the aluminium industry, driving manufacturers to adopt sustainable methodology in the production process. This new transformation has touched upon the entire value chain – from bauxite and alumina to aluminium end-use product manufacture. It is no hidden fact that sustainability is now the primary commitment and goal to achieve, whether for aluminium raw material producers/suppliers, aluminium product manufacturers/suppliers or aluminium consumers. AlCircle’s latest industry-focused report, ‘ Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023 ’, rightly noted that decarbonizing aluminium on the supply side will be the industry’s topmost priority in the years to come. This is expected to...
Internationally acclaimed brand based in the United Kingdom, The Body Shop has expanded its sustainable refill drive to incorporate a brand-new flagship product, the Peptalk Lipstick. The Body Shop’s Peptalk Lipstick comes enclosed in a refillable case made of 100% recyclable aluminium. Before introducing the Peptalk Lipstick, the brand served its customers with refillable packaging solutions only across their shower gel, hair care or hand soap ranges. But with this new 100% recyclable aluminium packaging, customers can refill their Peptalk cases at the brand’s outlets. As early as 2021, The Body Shop began charting a five-year growth plan to erect refill stations in a maximum of its outlets. The Body Shop stores in the US and Canada have taken this initiative very seriously. Currently,...
Coca-Cola and AG Barr were among some of the top beverage brands that had instigated the new First Minister to launch Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS). Discussions about Scotland’s DRS have been going on since 2019. On March 27, it was declared that Humza Yousaf would replace Nicola Sturgeon as the First Minister of Scotland and instantly embark on a mission to perfectly accommodate the allegedly perilous deposit return scheme . Scotland had previously estimated that the DRS would be applicable by August, but since its inception, the scheme has been under vigorous scrutiny by a third party. The UK government has vocally opposed this deposit return scheme, claiming it would be disastrous for the economy. To voice their concerns, the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) members,...
Scotland’s DRS scheme has received intense scrutiny from the Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS), representing Scotland’s SME resource and waste management enterprises. But the DRS administrator, Circularity Scotland, refuses to succumb to the queries. RMAS estimates that the small waste management firms will endure the blow of this mechanism as, until now, various operators were responsible for waste management in Scotland’s hospitality sector, but after the introduction of this scheme, the businesses will have “ no alternative but to accept Biffa’s services for the collection of all qualifying drinks containers.” An associate from Circularity Scotland asserted that “clearly drinks containers are only one element of the materials that make up household and business waste in...
The advent of the Paris Act of 2015 has led global energy-intensive industries are adopting more sustainable ways to carry forward their business. Last week, Ball uploaded its Climate Transition Plan aligned with the most current UN guidelines. Vedanta Aluminium has begun circulating sustainability protocols to restore the water bodies in the vicinity according to the 6th UN Sustainable Development Goal of 'Clean Water and Sanitation'. SMX has developed a technology that can trace aluminium throughout its lifespan using molecular-level tagging and blockchain technology, making it simpler to recycle and reuse. On Wednesday, March 15, Constellium SE, a global producer of aluminium rolled products, extruded products and structural parts, published its 2022 Sustainability Report noting that...
A Trash4Cash kiosk has been installed at Padang Lintau in Manjoi, located in the Malaysian city of Ipoh, so that locals can receive rewards for the recyclable waste they turn in. Some accepted items are plastic containers, paper, cardboard boxes, electronic scrap, used cooking oil and aluminium cans. The people interested in the recycling drive need to download and register on the Trash4Cash mobile app so that the customers can redeem the reward points accumulating in the profiles. Moreover, they can write their names and phone number on a tag provided at the kiosk that can be stamped on the recyclables. The kiosk will offer payments in alignment with the market rate. Used cooking oil will fetch a person RM 2.50 per kg; plastic containers are valued at 40sen per kg, old newspapers are...
