#Sustainability #USA #London #Aluminium Industry #Greenhouse Gases

Global Progress in the Aluminium Industry's Emission Reduction

The global aluminium industry has made significant strides in reducing the intensity of its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while achieving stable production growth. According to new statistics released by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the past year has marked the third consecutive year where aluminium production has increased without a corresponding rise in emissions.

Emission Trends

In 2023, the intensity of GHG emissions from aluminium production saw a decline of 2.33%, reaching 10.04 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of aluminium produced. This downward trend is notable as it follows an 11.5% reduction since 2020. Simultaneously, the worldwide production of aluminium rose by 2.75%, totaling 111.2 million tons. Despite this increase, total emissions remained nearly flat at 1.116 billion tons of CO2 equivalent, just slightly above the previous year.

Miles Prosser, the General Secretary of IAI, expressed confidence in the industry’s progress, stating, "The latest data reinforces our belief that the aluminium sector has reached a pivotal point where production growth is successfully decoupled from emission increases. This is a positive affirmation of the initiatives undertaken by our member companies to ramp up production without a significant uptick in emissions."

Challenges Ahead

However, while the stability in emissions levels portrays a step in the right direction, it also highlights the considerable challenge still faced in reducing emissions further. Prosser pointed out that sustained industry efforts and substantial investments in emissions reduction projects have laid a solid foundation, yet more aggressive actions are required to achieve deeper and more extensive emissions reductions across the industry.

Industry's Role in Carbon Reduction

As various sectors strive to lower their carbon footprints, the aluminium industry remains integral to many initiatives, including the generation and distribution of clean energy, the transition to electric vehicles, and the adoption of sustainable packaging for food and beverages. With increasing demand for aluminium, substantial investments are being made throughout the value chain to mitigate GHG emissions effectively.

The IAI also reported that emissions intensity related to the production of aluminium—comprising both primary metal production and recycling—dropped from 10.28 tons CO2e per ton in 2022 to 10.04 tons CO2e in 2023. Notably, emissions from primary aluminium production decreased from 15.1 tons CO2e per ton in 2022 to 14.8 tons CO2e in 2023.

Comprehensive Emission Data

The IAI provides comprehensive data regarding GHG emissions linked to the aluminium sector, spanning various processes. These include the bauxite extraction, alumina refining, primary aluminium production, anode production, melting, aluminium recycling, semi-finished products production, and internal scrap remelting. This dataset encompasses both direct industrial process emissions and indirect emissions from energy consumption, sourced materials, and transportation of essential ingredients. Such data offers significant insights into the sector's environmental impact and progress in emissions reduction.

In conclusion, the aluminium industry is on a promising path, demonstrating a capacity for growth in production while minimizing its greenhouse gas emissions intensity. Continued efforts and innovation will be paramount in confronting the challenges ahead and achieving more substantial reductions in the industry’s carbon footprint.