ASI certifies Rio Tinto Iceland Smelter against ASI Performance Standard
The aluminium produced at ISAL is destined for use in several markets, including building and construction, automotive, printing, and packaging.
3 May 2021
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Rio Tinto has been successfully certified against the ASI Performance Standard with Provisional Status for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium at its Iceland Smelter (ISAL). ISAL annually produces around 204,000 tonnes of aluminium with a relatively low carbon footprint based on hydropower. ISAL produces aluminium billets that are used to make a wide variety of downstream products for the construction, automotive and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sectors.
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 Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) which address key issues such as biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples rights, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The certification has been achieved 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 independent, third-party audit of the Rio Tinto facility 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 warmly congratulate Rio Tinto on achieving ASI Performance Standard Certification with Provisional Status for their ISAL smelting facility. We welcome Rio Tinto’s ongoing commitment to ASI’s mission and their leadership as a founding member. They have played a valuable role in the widespread adoption of our standards across the industry and into downstream aluminium use sectors such as automotive, construction and packaging.”
Rio Tinto chief commercial officer Alf Barrios said, “Expanding our global offering of independently certified, responsibly produced aluminium to include ISAL aligns with our aim to have consistently high ESG credentials across Rio Tinto. This certification can enhance the value ISAL’s high quality billet delivers for customers in European markets, where there is a growing demand for sustainable products across sectors like construction and automotive. We look forward to continuing our partnership with ASI, as we work with customers to offer sustainable products that help them meet consumer expectations.”
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