The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is an organisation responsible for evaluating the operational standards of a company before providing proper certifications so that a firm can get ready for global validation. The Certification Programme has evolved through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is by far the only voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. ASI Performance Standard certifications focus on 'material stewardship', addressing issues such as product design, life cycle assessment, management of processed scrap and collection and recycling of products at the end-of-life.

Once a company is registered under the ASI protocol, it can be considered a globally acceptable brand for safe aluminium transportation, storage or production. ASI lends out certificates to various industry streams like mining, raw material production, downstream products or components manufacturing agencies and also the end user sector. To maximise aluminium's contribution to building a sustainable society, producers, users, and stakeholders in the complete value chain are brought under one roof by ASI, a non-profit organisation that upholds industry standards and provides certification services.

Some of the notable end-user companies that earned different forms of ASI Certifications in 2022 are:

Ball Corporation: As early as in February, Ball Beverage Packaging at its two operations in Sri City and Taloja, India, achieved the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard Certification for the production and supply of aluminium can bodies, alongside the collection and delivery of can ends. For the first time, Ball facilities in India received such global recognition, though the country is a major producer of aluminium. Then in March of the same year, Ball Asia Pacific (Yangon) Metal Container Limited, a Ball Corporation subsidiary, gathered dual certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, becoming the first Ball facility in Myanmar to be acknowledged under ASI standards. ASI declared the successful certification of the Ball facility against Performance Standards with Provision Status and Chain of Custody Standard for the manufacture and supply of aluminium can bodies, along with sourcing and supplying can ends. In the month of April, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative unveiled successfully certifying TBC Ball Beverage Can Vietnam Limited with the Performance Standard under Provisional status and Chain of Custody Standard for responsible production, sourcing, and stewardship of aluminium. 

International Can S.A.: During March this year, International Can S.A., a unit from Luxemburg, received the Industrial user certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), permitting the company to successfully conduct trade across the aluminium value chain on a global scale. The metal packaging brand can now rely on the verbiage on the certificates to make its products widely acceptable in the market.

Aludyne: In April, Aludyne joined ASI as a new Industrial User to safely run its business internationally. The brand is a global, vertically integrated producer of the cast and machined automotive components made of aluminium, magnesium, and iron. The company also specialises in precisely engineered solutions applied to create safety-critical goods.

Qualipac Aluminium: In August, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative crowned Qualipac Aluminium as an Industrial User member to constitute a responsible value chain for aluminium. The company that excels in producing luxury packaging for cosmetics and other branded products will now follow ASI guidelines in making its flagship containers.  

Ardagh Metal Packaging: In November, Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) was certified against ASI's Performance Standard (V2) 2017 for both its regional headquarters in Germany and its French aluminium production unit. By registering its facilities under the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), Ardagh has made its business more transparent, as brands under the ASI tag can continue with safe trade under the specifications laid by the organisation, creating a rigid commercial base.

Cervajaria Masterpiece: Brazil's Microbrewery, Cervejaria Masterpiece, during July, joined the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative as a new Industrial User. The brewery took the decision to join ASI to augment the brand's integrity. Moreover, this certification would help the company to smoothly run its operations all over the country and the neighbouring regions. 

Mercedes-Benz: The German automobile giant, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, gained Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for the manufacture of aluminium vehicle body sheets and structural parts at five of its European press shops. Mercedes has been appreciated by the ASI certification for the company's exponential work in the facilities like Sindelfingen, Kuppenheim, Bremen, and Hamburg, all located in Germany and Kecskemét in Hungary. 

Ronal Group: A lightweight aluminium alloy wheel maker, RONAL GROUP was awarded the ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification this year during the month of October. The brand was recognised for a Material Stewardship aim at production sites like RONAL POLSKA Sp. z o.o. in Walbrzych, Poland and RONAL AG Headquarters in Härkingen, Switzerland.

The Aluminium Stewardship is one of the most trusted international forums that ensure the safe storage and transformation of aluminium goods all around the world. A company needs to be full of decorum and good practices to be eligible for this certification or ASI title. But once a brand becomes acknowledged by ASI, its journey becomes easier as no more content justification is required, and business can be run at a pre-destined pace.