ASI certifies UACJ Corporation against Performance Standard (Provisional) and CoC Standard (Full)

21 March 2022

UACJ Corporation has achieved ASI Performance Standard with Provisional status Certification and Chain of Custody Standard Certification for the manufacture of aluminium sheet products at Fukui Works, Japan and UACJ (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Thailand. The Fukui Works is the first in Japan to achieve ASI Certification, and the plants’ main products include rolling-ingots, hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and finished sheets that are destined for applications including packaging and transportation including automotive. 

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that UACJ Corporation has been provisionally certified against the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard certification for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. The Fukui Works’ melting, casting, rolling and finishing operations in Japan produce thin sheets for primarily can sheet and automotive body sheet, and thick plates are used to build LNG tankers and in aerospace applications. Thin sheets produced at the Rayong Works in Thailand are processed and shaped for a range of uses, including can sheet, automotive heat exchanger materials and fin stock for air-conditioners. The plants have received Performance Standard Provisional Certification under the ASI Interim Policy regarding Audits, Audit-Related Travel and Coronavirus, which clarifies the reasonable accommodations that can be made to audit plans in consideration of the current COVID-19 situation.

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 defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, with the aim to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. It sets out 59 criteria under the three sustainability pillars of Governance, Environment and Social, which address key issues such as biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples rights, and greenhouse gas emissions. The ASI CoC Standard sets out requirements for the creation of a Chain of Custody for material that is produced and processed through the value chain into diverse downstream sectors. The implementation of ASI’s CoC Standard links verified practices at successive steps of the supply chain – certified under the ASI Performance Standard – to the products produced by ASI Certified Entities.

The independent, third-party audit of the UACJ Corporation facilities was carried out by ERM Certification and Verification Services. The audit was undertaken as a ‘desktop’ exercise with a remote review of relevant documentation. Some criteria requiring on-site evaluation by the auditor will be evaluated when an on-site audit can be scheduled.

Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said, “We congratulate UACJ Corporation for achieving provisional Performance Standard Certification as well as Chain of Custody Standard Certification at these two rolling facilities.  They should be proud to achieve the first ASI Certification in Japan. These rolling operations are an important link between the upstream aluminium producers and a very wide range of downstream companies using aluminium in their finished products.  The dual ASI Certification demonstrates UACJ’s commitment to responsible production practices and sourcing to its customers. UACJ has a broad portfolio of aluminium product manufacturing sites internationally, and we look forward to the company’s future achievement of further ASI Certifications.“

Miyuki Ishihara, president of UACJ Corporation, explains that “UACJ is based in Japan and has manufacturing facilities in Japan, other parts of Asia, and North America. We produce a wide range of semi-finished aluminum products, including sheet and plate, foil, extrusions, and cast and forged products. We are proud to report we are the first Japanese aluminum company to receive ASI certification, at our two key rolling operations, in Fukui and Rayong. This certification will help UACJ realize its group purpose, to ‘contribute to society by using raw materials to manufacture products that enhance prosperity and sustainability.’”

More information

• Consult the UACJ Corporation Performance Standard summary audit report
• Consult the UACJ Corporation Chain of Custody summary audit report
• Consult the UACJ Corporation member page

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