"Water risk and stewardship approaches for the aluminium industry":
Read the guest article below by Alliance for Water Stewardship. Image credit: kelly@pexels
CO2 emissions: Certified vs. non-certified assets under the ASI Performance Standard
Reducing the aluminium sector’s emissions in line with a 1.5°C warming scenario is one of ASI’s long-term goals. In February 2024, ASI published an ASI Entity-Level GHG Pathways Method for ASI Entities to support them in determining 1.5°C aligned GHG Emissions Reduction Pathways.
Leveraging emissions data from the CRU Emissions Analysis Tool, we have compared the CO2 emissions intensity for upstream and rolling assets that are ASI Performance Standard certified vs non-certified. The key takeaway for 2022 data (Table 1) is that, overall, ASI Certified Entities for these supply chain activities tend to demonstrate lower carbon footprints than non-certified operations. Table 1 – Percentage share by ASI Certified assets of global assets, production and CO2 emissions for that asset type
However there remains a significant challenge ahead to decarbonise the aluminium value chain. Taking the average (2022) ASI Entity performance, and using this as input to the recently launched ASI GHG Pathways Method, we can see that even low emitting cohorts will need to reduce emissions significantly to be 1.5ºC degree aligned. A low baseline is a privileged starting point, but it does not mean complacency.
Building trust with communities: The path to meaningful engagement and consent
In a world increasingly aware of corporate impact, companies need to recognise their vital role as good corporate citizens within the communities where they operate, particularly in proximity to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Good community relations are no longer an optional CSR effort but a critical component for sustainable business operations.
Building good community relations goes beyond fulfilling legal obligations; it's about fostering long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities. This entails respecting IPLCs by obtaining their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), engaging in respectful, honest dialogue, and committing to continuous improvement in practices. This can help companies to proactively identify potential issues, resolve them before they become deeper conflicts, and secure IPLC consent for new projects.
ASI is delighted to announce the Board election results for 2024, with new terms commencing from 16 April 2024.
Newly elected: Julia Batho (Institute for Human Rights and Business) and Salman Abdulla (Emirates Global Aluminium).
Re-elected: Jan Boekelman (Chimbo Foundation) and Gerald Rebitzer (Amcor).
ASI sincerely thanks outgoing Directors Rosa Garcia Pineiro (Production and Transformation) and Pippa Howard (Civil Society) for their leadership and thoughtful contributions to the Board over their Director terms and long engagement with ASI.
The ASI Standards Committee has been newly elected for a 2 year term and work program, in the lead up to the 2027 revision process.
A highlight of this year’s election results is even stronger grassroots participation from members of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Forum (IPAF), who have also joined ASI as Civil Society members in their own right. These include IPAF participants from Guinea, India, Suriname, Ghana and Australia.
To cater for this interest, ASI also created two additional Observer seats for IPAF as a capacity building opportunity, alongside the 12 Civil Society/IPAF members of the Committee, and 12 industry members. The Observers will normally be non-voting, but they can also act as proxies / alternates in a voting capacity for absent Committee members as required.
Water risk and stewardship approaches for the aluminium industry
This month, ASI is pleased to present a guest article from our Civil Society Member, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS).
Water scarcity is a growing concern worldwide, with more than a quarter of the world’s population facing extremely high levels of water stress. The aluminium industry’s inherent dependence on water underscores its vulnerability to water-related challenges and potential impacts on other water users. How can the aluminium industry address these challenges, build business resilience and safeguard water as a shared resource?
The 30th World Aluminium Conference will be held over three days, from May 14-16, 2024 at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London. ASI will be co-hosting the event, alongside the International Aluminium Institute.
Keynote session - Industry challenges - multi-issue, multi-stakeholder and whole value chain with Dr. Fiona Solomon
GHG emissions – methods, guidance, tools, and future alignment with Chris Bayliss, as well as a deep-dive workshop on ASI's Entity-level GHG 1.5C aligned Method.
Panel discussion: The nexus of legislation, corporate sustainability and supply chain due diligence with Marieke van der Mijn
Panel discussion: Circularity with Gabriel Carmona Aparicio
Meet with IAI, ASI and RMI experts on GHG emissions
Experts from IAI, ASI and RMI will be on hand for the deep-dive workshop on the final day: Enabling a 1.5 degree aligned aluminium sector – pathways, tools and guidance. In this interactive session, attendees from across the value chain will have the opportunity to explore recently developed and published tools and guidance for a 1.5 degree aligned (net zero) aluminium sector, including:
Entity-Level GHG Pathways Method and Calculation Tool (ASI)
Learning Modules on GHG Emissions & Reduction Pathways Method (ASI)
Aluminum GHG Emissions Reporting Guidance & Pilot Testing (RMI)
Industry training and capacity-building (RMI)
Development of a Buyers Scope 3 Handbook (RMI)
Participants can look forward to insights and Q&A on a variety of issues including GHG accounting methodologies, enablers and barriers to 1.5-degree alignment and the interplay of existing initiatives, standards and approaches.
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ASI CERTIFICATION NEWS
In April, ASI Members achieved 5 new certifications, with several more in the announcement pipeline.
Nemak S.A.B de C.V (Nemak) has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification at three of its global production facilities in Poland, Slovakia and Brazil. Consult the media release.
Nanjing Chervon Auto Precision Technology Co., Ltd. has been issued a Provisional Certification against ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) for the production and sale of automotive components at their facility in Nanjing, China. Consult the media release.
Ye Chiu Metal Smelting Sdn. Bhd. has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for the manufacture of secondary aluminium alloy ingots at its re-melting facility in Johor, Malaysia. Consult the media release.
ASI Secretariat members regularly participate at events with in-person or virtual presentations. Additional details on dates, times, content and how to join the sessions are published on our events page as soon as they are available.
CRU World Aluminium Conference 2024. 14-16 May, 2024, London, UK. ASI's participation in the program is noted in the article above. More information on the event website.
Indonesia 2024 Critical Minerals Conference & Expo / ASEAN Bauxite Industry Conference 2024. 11-12 June, 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia. More information on the event website.
