Happy new year! ASI incorporated in 2015, making 2023 the ninth year of our collective journey. We are proud to now number 275 ASI Members across our 6 membership classes. There have been 238 ASI Certificates issued to certifying Members for both Performance and Chain of Custody. But what is the direction and purpose for this increasing scale of implementation?
In October 2022, the ASI Board held a full day workshop to reflect on ASI’s strengths, opportunities, aspirations and desired results, and review the existing framework for change, as part of ASI’s annual strategy processes.
ASI’s new Strategy on a page, below, illustrates our ‘theory of change’ – the mechanisms through which we aim to contribute to sustainability-enhancing changes in the aluminium sector.
ASI’s four strategic foundations
Effective Governance plays an enabling foundation for ASI’s work, with a focus on multi-stakeholder decision-making at a standards and corporate governance level, as well as organisational and financial resilience.
Robust Program provides the technical foundation for delivering quality implementation of agreed standards and supporting the integrity of assurance frameworks by members and auditors.
Driving Change highlights the critical role of data and transparency to track progress, deepen insights and bring together the necessary actors to ultimately catalyse sustainability sector transformation on key sustainability topics.
Beyond Certification recognises that ASI has an opportunity to complement the Certification program through work with other stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, to support direct capacity building and amplify positive change in the aluminium value chain.
Desired short-term outcomes (2022-2025)
These strategic foundations will drive ASI towards its desired short-term outcomes (2022-2025): following on from the 2022 Standards launch, to build scale of participation, strengthen engagement with collaborative initiatives and frameworks, and invest in our digital ecosystem to innovatively manage data and stakeholder processes.
Medium term outcomes (2025-2030)
These in turn will position ASI for its desired medium-term outcomes (2025-2030): to further evolve its standards and certification program to meet evolving needs, enable access to relevant metrics on progress, and to reach a critical mass for sectoral change at scale (through these and other drivers). The next Standards Revision will be in this timeframe; while the periodic major revision cycle is mapped onto the timeframes to highlight key milestones, these will be supported by more frequent guidance and learning updates.
Long term goals (2030-2050)
Together, these outcomes will propel ASI’s members and stakeholders towards our long-term goals (2030-2050) on climate, circularity, nature positive and delivering social value. As ASI’s Strategy is updated annually, it is anticipated that these goals will become increasingly concrete (and urgent) as collective progress and effort is made across a wide range of programs.
Stay Informed We are excited about the year ahead as ASI’s certifying members transition to the new 2022 Standards, as well as a wide range of other important activities and projects that aim to advance sustainability in the aluminium value chain. We look forward to regularly sharing our progress with you each month.
D&R Insights December: Distribution of ASI Non-Conformances by region
The ASI Performance Standard is now implemented in 55 countries. Are there regional differences in Non-Conformance patterns?
The analysis of ASI Non-Conformance data recorded during ASI Performance Standard (V2, 2017) audits, undertaken between January 2018 (program launch) and June 2022, revealed that yes, there are regional differences in Principles with the most Non-Conformances.
The highest number of Non-Conformances by Principle for each region were identified as follows:
Europe: Principle 5 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions
North America, Australia/Oceania/Asia (excl. China): Principle 6 - Emissions, Effluents and Waste
Middle East: Principle 2 - Policy and Management
Central & South America: Principle 2 - Policy and Management and Principle 8 - Biodiversity
Africa: Principle 4 - Material Stewardship.
China: Principle 10 - Labour Rights.
The variation in Non-Conformance issues by Principle in each region results from factors including different levels of Entities’ risks and systems, applicable legislation and regulations, and the key ESG issues particular for this region.
ASI launches new tool to support Entities with their CoC Material accounting and annual reporting
In response to requests for more guidance on how to meet the requirements for a CoC Material Accounting System, we have developed the CoC Material Accounting Tool (CoC MAT) to support CoC Certifying Entities in building their own CoC Material Accounting Systems.
The main purpose of the Material Accounting System under the ASI CoC Standard is to track and ensure that the total Output of CoC Material and/or Eligible Scrap does not proportionally exceed the Input Percentage of CoC Material and/or Eligible Scrap over the Material Accounting Period, across the whole Certification Scope.
The CoC MAT tool was designed to be ready to use for all types of Entities, regardless of their size and position along the aluminium value chain. Entities can choose to use the CoC MAT to manage their own Material Accounting System or incorporate elements of it in their existing systems if they wish. Use of the Tool is optional.
Gränges Shanghai Member Story: Driving employee engagement and improved management systems to achieve strategic sustainability goals
Jiang Gu, VP Supply Chain at Gränges Shanghai talks about the impact of ASI certification on their workforce and internal management systems.
Great Ambitions
Our ASI membership matters to us because ASI drives the responsible sourcing, production and stewardship of aluminium. Its mission is in line with our ambition to be the front runner in the heat exchange industry. Achieving ASI Certification is consistent with our industry positioning as it gives us a competitive advantage in new projects with our customers. Through the ASI Certification process, we’ve been able to improve our internal management systems on our environmental, social and governance performance, ensuring sustainable growth.
Making Progress
Our certification journey involved significant change. For example, despite having to work to tight schedules, we completely adjusted our employee working hours and overtime schedules to meet ASI requirements. This meant going beyond general regulation and implementing hours that were better suited to the social and wellbeing needs of our workforce.
In addition, we improved our management systems, policies and records. We also extended ASI practices to our suppliers through regular training and conducting supplier due diligence. Our governance is more systematic and structured, and we have improved our transparency through public disclosures on issues such as waste management and other topics.
ASI Members: if you would like to participate in the ASI member story series, please contact Chinelo Etiaba at Chinelo@aluminium-stewardship.org
CRU World Aluminium Conference 2023
The 28th World Aluminium Conference will take place on the 16-18 May 2023 at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, co-hosted by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).
ASI is pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting the 2023 CRU conference, along with the International Aluminium Institute. The event will be over 3 days in London, from 16-18 May 2022.
The program is under development and will integrate sustainability and market insights focused on the aluminium value chain. The third day will include two parallel workshop sessions: one on a deeper dive on GHG methodologies and the other on ASI as a Track A Standard for LME’s Responsible Sourcing program.
ASI, IAI and CRU are joining forces for this event to maximise value for our respective stakeholders. In future communications we will provide more details on the program as it develops, as well as a discount code for ASI members. Mark your calendars today to join us in London in May!
New course on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) published on ASI's learning platform
ASI has developed a new online course on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The first two modules of the course have now been published and offer learners an understanding of theopportunities and challenges associated with the practical implementation of an FPIC process, and examples of practical approaches to culturally appropriate engagement.
Within the ASI context, FPIC should apply where Local Communities are present, regardless of whether they self-identify as Indigenous. This course is thus useful for stakeholders that are interested to learn how FPIC might best be assessed during ASI audits, and particularly in preparation for ASI Performance Standard Audits, particularly in relation to ASI Performance Standard Criteria 9.3, 9.4 and 9.7.
The course takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to complete, and also includes additional testimonies from the field around FPIC implementation.
Note that course access requires learners to register for a free educationAL account.
Watch the recording:
Climate Change Adaptation: Community Health Risk, Resilience, and Responses
In this 45 minutes on webinar Dr Jim Wesdock (Global Health Director, Alcoa) and Dr Greg Paoli (Principal Risk Scientist, Risk Sciences International) will explore an ongoing International Aluminium Institute-led and ASI-supported project to develop tools for evaluating and managing climate change-related health, safety and well-being risks, all of which endeavours to favourably impact on asset operational resilience and the communities in which these assets reside.
In 2022, ASI hosted 13 webinars covering a broad range of key issues related to our work program, by partnering with ASI members and top experts from leading organisations in their fields. If you missed one, you can watch the recording.
ASI's Working Groups: An overview for Members (November 2022)
Critical Ecosystem Areas: Better biodiversity metrics for business with WCS (November 2022)
Grievance mechanisms: training for practitioners with BSR, RMI, The Copper Mark (October 2022)
The Species Threat Abatement and Restoration Metric (STAR) with IBAT (October 2022)
Emerging ESG paradigm shifts in industry with Dr. Raj Aseervatham (August 2022)
AUDI future rollout of ASI compliant material (July 2022)
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)
In January, ASI Members achieved 4 new certifications, with several more in the announcement pipeline.
ASAŞ Alüminyum San. Ve Tic. A.Ş. (ASAŞ Alüminyum) has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for the manufacture of aluminium flat rolled products, aluminium profile, composite panels, PVC profiles, and shutter products at its Akyazı and Karapürçek production facilities in Türkiye, as well as its Headquarters located in İstanbul, Türkiye. Consult the media release.
Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (INALUM) Persero has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for its INALUM Smelting Plant at Kuala Tanjung in Indonesia. This is the first certification issued against the updated Performance Standard V3, which was launched in May 2022 following a multi-year revision process. Consult the media release.
ALRO has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for its ALRO S.A. operations in Slatina, Romania. This is the first Certification against the updated Performance Standard V3 issued to a Europe-based facility. ALRO is the only producer of primary aluminium and aluminium alloys in Romania, and operates the largest smelter in Central and Eastern Europe. Consult the media release. PLEASE NOTE that there was an error in the media release sent by email. The second paragraph included some non-relevant text at the end, and should have read: "Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that ALRO has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3 for the manufacture and sale of aluminium alloy slabs, billets, wire rod, plates and sheets obtained by casting, hot rolling, homogenization, heat treatment, mechanical processing, finishing, and testing. Additional activities in the certification scope of this vertically integrated operation include alumina refining and aluminium recycling. The Slatina, Romania operations have an annual production capacity of 265,000 tpa of electrolytic aluminium, 47,000 tpa of secondary aluminium, 332,000 tpa of primary aluminium cast products. The current flat rolled products production capacity is 90,000 tpa with an expansion programme now underway."
Novelis (China) Aluminum Products Co., Ltd. (Novelis China) has achieved ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification at its production facility in the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, Jiangsu Province, China. This is the first certification against the updated CoC Standard V2, which was launched in May 2022 following a multi-year revision process. Consult the media release.
In January, ASI welcomed two Production & Transformation members, one Industrial User member, and one General Supporter member bringing the total number of ASI members to 275.
Read more about our new members below, and for more information about ASI membership, please visit the Join ASI page on our website!
Hydrova
Hydrova is an EPA-funded industry leader in zero-waste dross recycling. Spun out of MIT research in 2020, Hydrova’s patent-pending separations technology recovers valuable aluminum, salt, and oxide products from dross and... Read more.
"Hydrova was founded with the mission of creating a fully closed loop for the aluminum industry. In joining ASI, we look forward to helping recyclers build tangible strategies for achieving their waste reduction and decarbonization goals."
– Julian Davis, Co-Founder and CEO
Find more information on Hydrova on their ASI Member page in the General Supporter Class.
Fujian Nanping Aluminum Co., LTD
Fujian Nanping Aluminum Co., LTD., formerly known as “613” Munitions Factory and Nanping Aluminum Plant, was founded in 1958 and restructured into a joint-stock company in 2016. The company’s leading products are aluminum profile, aluminum processing and deep processing.... Read more.
“Fujian Nanping Aluminum Co., Ltd. has volunteered to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). We are committed to ASI certification, promoting responsible production, responsible sourcing and corporate governance in the aluminium value chain, and implementing the concept of sustainable development."
Vedanta limited (Aluminium business) comprises of 1) Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh (Odisha, India), 2) Aluminium Smelter (SEZ) at Jharsuguda (Odisha, India), 3) Aluminium Smelter (DTA) at Jharsuguda (Odisha, India) and 4) Aluminium Smelter Balco, Korba (Chhatishgarh, India) with associated utilities and infrastructure in all the locations... Read more.
“Vedanta Aluminium is pleased to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) members list. This stands testimony to our sustainability-focused business outlook and reinforces our commitment to grow our business on the bedrock of ESG (environment, social and governance) excellence. Being one of the world’s leading aluminium producers, we recommit to our mission of exploring the limitless potential of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a low carbon future."
– Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business
Established in 1955, Sigma Machine has been steadily growing since its founding. Committed to delivering high quality design, prototyping, and manufacturing services, our team is guided by their can-do attitude and solid Midwestern work ethic... Read more.
“Sigma Machine supports the use of aluminum products as 100% recyclable material. We support our customers and suppliers drive toward sustainable energy usage and a clean environment for our families to live."
– Andrew Tomczyk, Vice President-Engineering/Quality
Find more information on Sigma Machine LLC on their ASI Member page in the Industrial User Class.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming ASI Secretariat event participation
ASI Secretariat members regularly participate at events with virtual or in-person presentations. Additional details on dates, times, content and how to join the sessions will be published on our events page when they become available.
OECD Due Diligence Guidance Auditing Summit | Paris, 2-3 February 2023 | Camille Le Dornat, Laura Brunello
ASAŞ Alüminyum San. Ve Tic. A.Ş. (ASAŞ Alüminyum) has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for the manufacture of aluminium flat rolled products, aluminium profile, composite panels, PVC profiles, and shutter products at its Akyazı and Karapürçek production facilities in Türkiye, as well as its Headquarters located in İstanbul, Türkiye. 
Novelis (China) Aluminum Products Co., Ltd. (Novelis China) has achieved ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification at its production facility in the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, Jiangsu Province, China. This is the first certification against the updated CoC Standard V2, which was launched in May 2022 following a multi-year revision process. 
Hydrova is an EPA-funded industry leader in zero-waste dross recycling. Spun out of MIT research in 2020, Hydrova’s patent-pending separations technology recovers valuable aluminum, salt, and oxide products from dross and... 
Fujian Nanping Aluminum Co., LTD., formerly known as “613” Munitions Factory and Nanping Aluminum Plant, was founded in 1958 and restructured into a joint-stock company in 2016. The company’s leading products are aluminum profile, aluminum processing and deep processing.... 
Vedanta limited (Aluminium business) comprises of 1) Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh (Odisha, India), 2) Aluminium Smelter (SEZ) at Jharsuguda (Odisha, India), 3) Aluminium Smelter (DTA) at Jharsuguda (Odisha, India) and 4) Aluminium Smelter Balco, Korba (Chhatishgarh, India) with associated utilities and infrastructure in all the locations... 
Established in 1955, Sigma Machine has been steadily growing since its founding. Committed to delivering high quality design, prototyping, and manufacturing services, our team is guided by their can-do attitude and solid Midwestern work ethic... 
