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LME Recognition of ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022)
ASI’s Performance Standard V3 (2022) has been conditionally approved as a recognised alignment-assessed standard by the London Metal Exchange (LME), for Track A of their Responsible Sourcing Requirements.
An independent standard alignment assessment has confirmed ASI’s 2022 Performance Standard is OECD-Aligned. LME Brands for aluminium can use ASI Certification against the 2022 Performance Standard to demonstrate compliance with the LME’s Responsible Sourcing requirements. Full, unconditional approval will be assessed after the implementation portion of the alignment assessment is complete.
“ASI has done an excellent job translating the text of the OECD Guidance into practices for the aluminium value chain that producers can both implement and be audited against”, said Nicole Hanson, Responsible Sourcing Manager, LME.
“We’re pleased to take on the responsibility of integrating the OECD Guidance into ASI’s Certification program for the aluminium value chain, and collaborating with LME on their Responsible Sourcing requirements. Using a risk-based approach to harmonise due diligence across multiple sectors adds value for all stakeholders”, said Fiona Solomon, ASI CEO.
In 2021, ASI published training modules for members and auditors on risk-based due diligence in the aluminium supply chain in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, both available for free on ASI's online learning platform educationAL.
- Feature image attribution
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ASI Membership surpasses 250 member milestone
ASI was incorporated as a membership-based not-for-profit organisation in June 2015 with 13 ASI Members. Seven years later, we celebrate the joining of our 250th member, Qualipac Aluminium, a new Industrial User member.
In the meantime, we have also welcomed ASI's 251st member (see new Member report below). As of August 2022, ASI membership is composed of:
- 137 Production and Transformation members
- 42 Industrial User members
- 26 General Supporter members
- 24 Association members
- 12 Civil Society members
- 9 Downstream Supporter members
We appreciate the commitment and engagement of all ASI Members in pursuing the important mission ASI works to realise: to foster responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. It is only in close collaboration with our growing membership that we can achieve our vision to maximise the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society.
>> Find out more about ASI Members and becoming a member.
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Seven language versions of new Standards (2022) published
 ASI is pleased to announce that with the publication of Japanese translations, all seven planned language versions of the 2022 ASI Performance and Chain of Custody Standards (and supporting documents) are now available to access on the ASI website.
The 2022 versions are the outcome of ASI’s first major revision since the launch of its Standards and Certification program in 2017. The 2022 versions are now available in English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
>> Access the Standards and translations.
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ASI Certifications and associated Oversight processes continue to grow
With 207 ASI Certifications now issued across both Standards, along with regular surveillance and re-certification audits, the ASI team remain focused on the quality and integrity of the assurance process.
All Audit Reports are submitted through elementAL, ASI's online assurance platform and are then subject to an internal Oversight Assessment by the ASI Secretariat to:
- confirm that the ASI Accredited Auditing Firm has conducted and documented ASI Audits consistent with the requirements of the ASI Assurance Manual,
- enhance competence and consistency of assurance providers through direct feedback,
- ensure that an appropriate level of rigour and effort has been applied during the audit,
- that the public audit report has been clearly written with all audit findings presented, and
- identify ongoing improvement opportunities in ASI’s assurance system.
During July, there were a record 20 Oversight Assessments completed - the previous highest was 17 in both November 2021 and May this year. A similar number is expected to be completed in August. There are now four dedicated team members in the Assurance area that collaborate on this work, and further assistance is also provided from other members of the Secretariat as required.
For all upstream Entities (i.e. bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting) undergoing their first certification audit against the Performance Standard, the ASI Secretariat reviews the audit plan developed by the auditors and also undertakes a pre-audit risk review. Together these work to ensure that the audit will be undertaken by ASI Accredited Auditor personnel that have the necessary auditing experience applicable to the Entity and its risk profile, and to ensure that an appropriate level of effort and engagement (internal and external) will be undertaken during the audit. This review provides for a strategic assessment of the Entity’s context on risks relating to (but not limited to) governance and corruption, water stress, air and GHG emissions, protected areas and biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, modern slavery and human rights. The pre-audit review provides a useful resource for the audit team to revise their audit plan as required in response to any significant risks identified.
As certifications to the new 2022 Standards commence, additional oversight effort and engagement will be required as auditors and Members become accustomed to the 2022 Standards - in particular any new or revised criteria as well as revised reporting and disclosure requirements. With over 30 audits in the pre-planning phase currently and many more Entities working through their self-assessments, the number of oversights is expected to increase ongoing. From September 2022, a series of witness assessments have been scheduled, re-commencing this component of ASI's overall oversight approach.
>> More about ASI's Oversight Mechanism.
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Indigenous Peoples Advisory Forum (IPAF): Guinea in Focus
IPAF members from Guinea have grown during July and August. The new members have welcomed the opportunity to meet other IPAF members, learn about ASI and the opportunity to contribute to the IPAF platform.
Recent fieldwork in Guinea by ASI engaged with a wide range of communities in bauxite mining regions. There was strong interest in ASI's Indigenous Peoples Advisory Forum (IPAF), resulting in a number of new community members from various parts of Guinea.
IPAF provides an opportunity for connections between existing and new IPAF members from various regions to better understand their views on the aluminium supply chain, their participation to date, their aspirations for the future, and how IPAF may support and contribute to capacity building. A Guinea-focused session was held in in August and engagement is ongoing.
ASI is supporting IPAF members in multiple countries with specific projects including technical information, introductions to other IPAF members to share experiences, mentoring of IPAF project staff in project implementation and reporting, and contributions to specific local projects including in Australia, India, Norway, Guinea and Ghana.
>> More about ASI's activities with affected Indigenous communities.
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World Economic Forum publishes first edition of the Net-Zero Industry Tracker report
The report highlights the key challenges industries face to enable a net-zero world by 2050, and finds decarbonization of industries must pick up pace rapidly as demand continues to grow for industrial products.
Chris Bayliss, ASI Director of Standards says “With the aluminium sector requiring absolute emissions reduction of over 90% by mid-century, while meeting continued demand for the metal (a critical enabler of the energy transition), it is vital that action is urgently taken to decarbonise the industry and bring system-wide change to maximise aluminium recycling. This report is a sobering reminder that change is not happening at the pace required to deliver a 1.5 degree limited world – a commitment to which is embodied in ASI’s revised Performance Standard Principle 5.”
>> Continue reading on the ASI website.
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Still time to register for tomorrow's session
45 Minutes on... Emerging ESG paradigm shifts in industry
Join us for this 45 Minutes on... session, which will reflect on the forces shaping the availability of capital related to ESG and emerging market sensitivities to ESG factors in metals commodities. The discussion covers the mining and metals industry responses to these changes, what is happening now and what may be yet to come. It explores the paradigm shifts in industry needed to keep pace with, and ahead of, potential ESG trajectories.
For this 45 Minutes on... session, we'll be joined by Raj Aseervatham, who has had 15 operational and executive years in three ASX20 companies (two in mining and one in energy), as well as 15 years in consulting and ESG assurance to mining, manufacturing and energy companies (and their financiers and customers) around the world. He holds a PhD in Engineering and an MBA, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. He is a former ASX senior sustainability executive, currently a non-executive director and Board advisory professional, and the author of the ESG-focused postgraduate/MBA textbook “Leading Tomorrow” (Routledge NY, 2021). The session will be moderated by ASI CEO, Fiona Solomon.
Date: August 31, 2022
Time: 9AM BST • 10AM CEST • 6PM AEST
>> REGISTER NOW!
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Watch the recordings
 ASI's regular series of webinars to enhance dialogue and engagement opportunities, covering topics directly related to the ASI Standards, our work program, plus topics that provide insights into the broader context within which we work.
Explore the recorded sessions on our website.
- AUDI future rollout of ASI compliant material (July 2022)
- 45 Minutes on... Aluminium + Climate 101 (July 2022)
- Business relationships as a driver for circularity with Dr Shyaam Ramkumar (June 2022)
- ASI's approach to Chain of Custody: Certification scope, Inputs/Outputs, mass balance (May 2022)
- Decarbonising Shipping: Insights into how Cargill is working with others to make zero-carbon shipping a reality (Apr 2022)
- Addressing modern slavery in the ASI Performance Standard (Mar 2022)
- Crunching the numbers: Analysing ASI Certification data using the new ASI Public Dashboard (Feb 2022)
- The new Net-Zero Standard with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) (Jan 2022)
- Future Demand for ASI Aluminium (Dec 2021)
- GHG Emissions: Increasing transparency, improving performance, delivering change and the evolving climate role of ASI (Oct 2021)
- Chain of Custody Material Flows: latest data and future developments (September 2021)
- And more, including: OECD Due Diligence, Indigenous Peoples, Standard benchmarking, ASI's oversight process
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In August, ASI Members achieved 8 new certifications, with several more in the announcement pipeline.
 Novelis has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification at three of its North American production facilities in Kentucky, Georgia and Ohio, respectively. The plants produce recycled ingots and sheet that are destined for the production of cans bodies and can ends. Consult the media release.
 Schüco International KG (Schüco) has achieved ASI Chain of Custody Standard V1 (2017) Certification for its headquarters in Germany and subsidiaries in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. These operations achieved ASI Performance Standard (Material Stewardship) in 2019 for the design, development, sale and distribution of aluminium systems and object solutions for the building envelope. Consult the media release.
- Mozal SA has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification with Provisional status at its Maputo smelting operation and related port facilities. This is not only the first ASI Certification in the country of Mozambique, but also the first certification of an ASI Production and Transformation Member in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consult the media release.
- Yunnan YunLv Yongxin Aluminium Co., Ltd. has achieved ASI Chain of Custody Standard V1 (2017) Certification at its aluminium smelting and casting operations in the Yangjie Industrial Park, Yunnan Province, China. Consult the media release.
- Mercedes-Benz Group AG has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification with a focus on Material Stewardship for its network of five European press shops that produce aluminium vehicle body and structural parts. Consult the media release.
- Iberfoil Aragón SLU has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification at its rolling and lamination operations in Sabiñánigo, Spain. The company’s two business areas are laminated foil and coil. Consult the media release.
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In August, ASI welcomed one Downstream Supporter member, one Industrial User member, and one General Supporter member bringing the total number of ASI members to 251.
Read more about our new members below. Statistics on the current ASI Members (among other data) can be accessed in a new interactive graphic on our Outcomes Dashboard. For more information about ASI membership, please visit the Join ASI page on our website!
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Beck Aluminum International, LLC
 Founded in 1950, Beck Aluminum is a global industry leader in aluminum distribution. Beck Aluminum supplies high quality, competitively priced aluminum ingot and RSI products throughout North America through its network of approved suppliers to afford supply assurance that is second to none... Read more.
“Beck Aluminum joined ASI because its membership will enhance its corporate mission to support its global supply base, diverse market segments and long-term customer relationships in the best way possible. ASl’s performance standards further support Beck Aluminum’s market objectives to responsibly access new markets and forge stronger partnerships in the aluminum recycling industry.”
–Geoffrey Beck , Manager
Find more information on Beck Aluminum on their ASI Member page in the Industrial Users Class.
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Qualipac Aluminium
 Qualipac Aluminum is part of Groupe Pochet, a global leader in high end luxury packaging for beauty and fragrance brands. The Qualipac Aluminium site has unique expertise in the design, manufacture, and decoration of aluminum parts. Read more.
“As parts of Groupe Pochet commitments to sustainability and responsible packaging “Luxe Autrement” program, Qualipac Aluminium is proud to join ASI as a member and is working actively toward certification to promote a responsible value chain for Aluminium”
–Nicolas Piffault, Groupe Pochet CSR Director
Find more information on Qualipac Aluminium on their ASI Member page in the Industrial Users Class.
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Autotech-UK (Gestamp)
 Autotech Engineering R&D UK Ltd, are part of the Gestamp Chassis Business Unit, which are responsible for the design, development, prototype and testing of chassis products. Autotech have developed leading edge optimisation tools and design methods for the development of lightweight chassis... Read more.
“Sustainability in its broadest sense has always been present at Gestamp and is one of the strategic areas, together with innovation and competitiveness. Without losing its long-term vision, Gestamp shows its commitment to society and its stakeholders based on Environmental Social and Good Governance criteria, with the aim of being a leader in the sector. The sustainability strategy and the fight against climate change are part of the company’s DNA and we pursue economic, social and environmental goals in equal parts."
– Philip Potter, Advanced Technologies Project Manager
Find more information on Autotech-UK (Gestamp) on their ASI Member page in the Downstream Supporter Class.
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Upcoming ASI Secretariat event participation
ASI Secretariat members are participating in several upcoming events with virtual or in-person presentations. Details on dates, times, content and info on how to join the sessions will be published on our events page when they become available.
- Chris Bayliss, Director of Standards | Fastmarkets Aluminium Conference | 13-15 September, 2022 | More information
- Marieke van der Mijn, Director of Partnerships | IBAAS-JNARDDC 2022 Conference and Exhibition | September 14-17, 2022 | More information
- Penda Diallo, ASI Qualitative Research Manager | ALUMINIUM | September 27 – September 29 | More information or see article below.
- Fiona Solomon, CEO, and Chris Bayliss, Director of Standards | AZ Global Aluminium Conference | 8-10 November 2022 | More information or see article below
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Aluminium 2022 Düsseldorf
As in previous years, ASI is participating at the ALUMINIUM trade fair in the sessions, and as an Industry Partner.
Penda Diallo, ASI Qualitative Research Manager, will be contributing twice within the Speakers Corner Innovation Plaza under the Sustainability and Recycling theme. She will speak in the Gender and Inclusion panel session on September 29 @ 10:00, and then later in the Raw Materials panel session at @ 13:00.
Find out more about ASI's participation on our event page.
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AZ Global Aluminium Virtual Conference 2022
ASI will be participating at the upcoming AZ Global Aluminium Online Conference 2022.
Chris Bayliss, ASI Director of Standard and Fiona Solomon, ASI CEO will be speaking as panellists in the following two sessions respectively:
- Wealth Flows from Energy and Ideas: The future is green energy. How can we get there? November 8 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am UTC
- When the Public Demands Answers: How is aluminium making the world a better place? November 10 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am UTC
Find out more about ASI's participation on our event page.
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