Enabling Biodiversity Protection in the Aluminium Sector: ASI’s approach
With the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity resuming in Nairobi, Kenya in October, we have compiled information and resources regarding how the ASI Standards and work program enable and support biodiversity protection.
Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of global ecosystems, the provision of ecosystem services, and is the foundation for human well-being, and the overall health of the planet. But aluminium production and use along the value chain, from bauxite mining to end-of-life recycling, can have significant direct and indirect biodiversity impacts. Improving biodiversity outcomes along the aluminium value chain is not only a responsible choice but also a strategic one for organisations that helps to enhance company reputation, reduce supply-chain risks and support long-term sustainability.
ASI is working on several fronts in this space to induce and support industry efforts to minimise negative impacts on biodiversity. First, ASI directly engages NGOs in its governance and Standards development work. Second, the ASI Performance Standard V3 integrates expanded biodiversity protection aspects into several of its Principles. Third, ASI's Nature-Positive Working Group is refining ASI Standard criteria to align with the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Fourth, ASI hosts webinars with biodiversity experts and provides tools for members that can be applied directly towards biodiversity protection and promote a nature-positive approach.
Strengthening bauxite mining education in Guinea through new training workshop
ASI's Guinea Project, an initiative to increase mining education in local communities impacted by bauxite mining, has made meaningful progress through workshops and training held in September and October, facilitated by ASI Secretariat members Dr Penda Diallo and Mark Annandale.
During interactive "train-the-trainer" workshops, 14 IPAF members in Guinea were trained in presentation skills and provided with tools to effectively deliver workshops and respond to questions. The training incorporated both practice presentations and feedback, allowing participants the opportunity to develop their knowledge in a practical setting. The IPAF members first tested delivering the workshop to the training group before it was facilitated in three communities in the Boke region and one in the Kindia region of Guinea.
Final steps for ASI Entity GHG Pathways Calculation Tool
The final draft of the ASI Entity-level GHG Pathways Method and Excel-based Calculation Tool have now been recommended by the Standards Committee and are being tabled with the Board for endorsement in November. This will provide an “ASI endorsed methodology” for the 2022 Performance Standard criterion 5.3. A rollout to ASI members and auditors that includes guidance and training will follow in Q1 2024.
During 2023, the ASI Climate Change Working Group has been developing a method that ASI Entities can use to define GHG Emissions Reduction Pathways, consistent with a 1.5C warming scenario. The 2022 Performance Standard criterion 5.3 made provision for an “ASI endorsed methodology” for this work. While other forums are developing (or considering developing) pathways methods, they do not meet ASI’s full needs.
Agreement has been reached on the approach, assumptions and limitations of the final draft of the Entity-level GHG Pathways Method, including the context and detail for different Supply Chain Activities. The Calculation Tool is an Excel version of the method that requires minimal input from Entities (often 1-2 numbers) to generate Pathway(s) for the Entity, specific to the Supply Chain Activities within its Certification Scope.
The ASI’s multi-stakeholder Standards Committee discussed the broader sectoral decarbonisation challenges and the proposed pathways method over 2 x 3 hour sessions at its in-person meeting in Liverpool and unanimously recommended it to the Board for endorsement. Following endorsement, updates to the Performance Standard Guidance and learning modules for members and auditors will be developed and rolled out, expected in Q1 2024.
Contact Chris Bayliss, Director of Standards for more information.
Non-Conformances increase with strengthened ASI Performance Standard V3
In May 2022, the ASI Performance Standard (PS) V3 was published following an extensive multi-stakeholder standards revision process. The updated PS V3 Standard strengthens requirements across governance, environmental and social criteria relative to the PS V2 (2017) Standard.
An analysis of Non-Conformance (NCs) data from current ASI Certifications for PS V2 and PS V3 between January 2020 and September 2023 shows that NCs have correspondingly increased under V3. This underscores the intent of the ASI Standards Committee to set more challenging systems and performance requirements. A growth in NCs was anticipated and has been confirmed by the analysis. As more Entities seek certification under V3, further analysis and insights will be shared.
From a sectoral change perspective, increasing numbers of NCs means increasing numbers of ASI Members are on a continual improvement journey, in that they will work to close these gaps across successive audits and elevate their performance. Even more mature Entities that have been previously certified need to extend their sustainability efforts to improve their performance. Future ASI Standards revisions will also continue to move the goalposts forward, and in so doing, drive an ongoing evolution of the aluminium value chain.
Advancing Resource Efficiency and Circularity in the Aluminium Value Chain: ASI presentation@ALUS'11
This recorded presentation by Gabriel Carmona Aparicio, ASI Circularity Research Manager was originally recorded for broadcast at the ALUS'11 event in October 2023.
The presentation takes a look at resource efficiency and the circular economy as transformative approaches to sustainability in the aluminium industry. The discussion begins by exploring the linear economy's limitations, characterised by increased waste and resource depletion, emphasising a crucial shift towards circularity. The circular economy is unraveled as a system solution where materials are circulated and regenerated by design, fostering renewal and sustainability.
The presentation unveils ASI’s proposed circularity framework, comprising Lifecycle Stages, Driving Change Role, Circularity Strategies, Business Models, and Metrics. This framework provides a holistic view of transitioning towards a circular economy, guiding strategies beyond recycling rates, and encouraging the adoption of various circular business models and practices. Finally, it invites collaboration and partnership to foster a collective approach towards sustainability, urging all stakeholders to contribute to a responsible and sustainable future in the aluminium industry.
Feedback: International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) Meeting – October 2023
During the first week of October, the members of ASI Association Member IAEG met in London. ASI was invited to present on responsible sourcing, GHG pathways and security of supply in the aluminium value chain.
ASI CEO, Dr Fiona Solomon, presented an overview of responsible sourcing opportunities and challenges for long and complex metal supply chains. During an hour session, she covered the ASI assurance model, ASI’s Performance and Chain of Custody Standards, ESG challenges in the aluminium value chain, and potential synergies with IAEG’s programs.
Chris Bayliss, ASI Director of Standards, presented two plenary sessions. The first was on the development of ASI’s Entity-level 1.5C aligned decarbonisation pathway tool, which aligns with section 5.3 of the ASI Performance Standard. The second explored the aluminium supply implications in a world of growing demand for lower carbon aluminium in both primary and recycled sources.
ASI collaborates with ISO/TC 323, WSAS Certification Advisory Committee and SBTN Expert Working Group
We're delighted to share that Gabriel, Vicky, and Marieke from the ASI Secretariat have been appointed to to key technical committees, strengthening ASI's role in shaping sustainable practices within the aluminium industry.
Vicky Tran, Assurance and Claims Manager, becomes a member of the Water Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS) Certification Advisory Committee, ensuring credible assurance against the AWS International Water Stewardship Standard.
Marieke van der Mijn, ASI’s Director of Partnerships, contributes to the Science Based Target Network (SBTN)’s Target B Value Chain Guidance Expert Working Group, providing guidance on nature-related impacts in complex supply chains.
Register now: How much sorting is required for a circular low carbon aluminium economy?
Enhancing the recycling system is key for transitioning the aluminium industry towards a circular low-carbon economy, helping to mitigate environmental impacts and prevent downcycling dynamics. This webinar aims to explore the potential environmental advantages of bolstering sorting efforts, synthesising insights from operations research, prospective material flow analysis, and life cycle assessment.
The session unveils how a proposed optimisation model outlines approaches to reduce climate change impacts, influenced by varied sorting efforts, dismantling conditions, and collection rates. Attendees will learn how optimal sorting strategies could potentially lessen yearly greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, identifying critical areas for prioritising closed-loop recycling.
Date: November 15, 2023 Time: 1:00 PM London • 2:00 PM Paris • 10 PM Melbourne
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.
The conference brings together professionals from across the aluminium supply chain, including from the primary, secondary, extruded, rolled products, end use, trading and financial sectors.
Registrations are now open. Information on early-bird prices is found on the event website.
45 Minutes on: Fostering a low-carbon circular economy: Insights from two material flow accounting models
This webinar explores the potential for a low-carbon circular economy through the lens of material flow accounting (MFA) models applied to the aluminium cycle at different scales.
Using a top-down approach, the session analyses the increasing demand for automotive aluminium, considering trends like vehicle electrification and larger car preferences, and the subsequent challenges in curbing GHG emissions and waste. Simultaneously, a bottom-up approach is presented, focusing on an aluminium production plant, showcasing a nuanced carbon and material accounting method that promises enhanced robustness and cost-saving opportunities. This analysis, grounded in a real-world case study, aims to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the intricate web of material flows and their potential impact on the industry's carbon footprint and circularity.
ASI's 45 minutes on... webinars covering a broad range of key issues related to our work program, often held in partnership with ASI members and top experts from leading organisations in their fields. If you missed one, you can watch the recording. The most recent ones are linked below.
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ASI CERTIFICATION NEWS
In October, ASI Members achieved eight new certifications, with several more in the announcement pipeline.
Hindalco Industries Ltd has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for its Renukoot Downstream facility in Uttar Pradesh, India. Consult the media release.
Fondital SpA has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification at its three facilities in Vobarno, Italy. Consult the media release.
Hindalco Industries Ltd. has achieved ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V1 (2017) Certification for its Kuppam Works plant in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Consult the media release.
Aludium Premium Aluminium (Aludium) has achieved ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V1 (2017) Certification at its cold rolling mill at its Aludium France SAS subsidiary in Castelsarrasin, France for the production of coils. Consult the media release.
Gränges has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) and Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification for the design and manufacture of rolled aluminium strips and sheets at its Gränges Konin SA facility in Konin, Poland. Consult the media release.
Hindalco Industries Ltd has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for its Alupuram Works manufacturing operation in the Kochi district of Kerala, India. Consult the media release.
Fujian Nanping Aluminum Co., LTD. has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for three divisions within its facility in Yanping District, Nanping City, Fujian Province, China. Consult the media release.
In October, ASI welcomed four new Production & Transformation members and one new Industrial User member, bringing the total number of ASI members to 320.
Read more about our new members below, and for more information about ASI membership, please visit the Join ASI page on our website!
MORAVIA CANS
MORAVIA CANS is an international and well-respected manufacturer of aluminium aerosol cans and bottles. The Company generates sales of over EUR 100 million from supplies into the UK and EU, plus other overseas markets. The Company has developed a leadership position in its specialist field... Read more.
As a leading supplier of aluminium aerosol cans and bottles, MORAVIA CANS takes the sustainability and circularity of the aluminium industry and supply chain very seriously. Metal Recycles Forever and this is the key differentiator of the metal packaging industry versus other packaging solutions.
– Martin Boaler, Managing Director
Find more information on MORAVIA CANS on their ASI Member page in the Industrial Users Class.
Jiangsu Kuna Industry Co. , Ltd.
Jiangsu Kuna Industrial Co., Ltd. is located on the west side of Provincial Road 326 in Xiangshui County Industrial Economic Zone Yancheng City. It was registered and established on July 24, 2018 at the Xiangshui County Market Supervision Administration with a registered capital of RMB 175.4386 million. In the three years of development and growth of the company, we have always provided customers...Read more.
Protecting ecosystem diversity, respecting human rights and reducing environmental and waste pollution. Making our enterprises a stable and long-term development environment.
Worsley Alumina is an integrated bauxite mining and alumina refining operation in the South West of Western Australia. Beginning operations in 1984, it is today recognised as one of the largest alumina refineries in the world. Bauxite is mined near the town of Boddington, 130 kilometres south east of Perth. The bauxite is transported to the Worsley Alumina Refinery...Read more.
South32 Worsley Alumina is proud to join as Production and Transformation members of ASI. We will be working towards becoming fully certified against the Performance Standard (v3) in FY24. Once certified, Worsley Alumina will join the South32 operated Mozal aluminium smelter to demonstrate the production of ASI certified products along the aluminium value chain.
We believe that taking action at each step of the value chain will maximise the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society.
Guangdong Hongjin Aluminum Investment Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as Huajin Aluminum Group) was founded in 1996 as an enterprise specializing in the research and development of new aluminium-based materials, direct supply of aluminium liquid distribution and grading reduction of recycled aluminium. After nearly 30 years of continuous development, it has 10 factories and 2 professional Research And Development Centers in Central, South and East China with an annual production capacity of 850,000 tons. The product is widely used...Read more.
Based on the development concept of “energy saving, emission reduction, environmental protection, limited resources, unlimited reuse” Guangdong Hongjin Aluminum Investment Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as Huajin Aluminum Group) will continue to implement green and low-carbon development, and creates a green and environmental protection industry chain integrating “aluminium alloy recycling, sorting, smelting, aluminium alloy ingot/liquid production, direct supply and distribution services”. Huajin Aluminum Group voluntarily joined ASI to fully implement the concept of green and sustainable development.
Aluminium Co of Egypt (Egyptalum) is a prominent entity within the metallurgical industries sector and operates as a subsidiary of the Metallurgical Industries Company. As a leading player in the aluminium industry, we are driven by our commitment to sustainable practices and responsible sourcing. Our specific interest lies in partnering with the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) to further enhance our environmental, social, and governance performance within the aluminium value chain. By aligning our operations...Read more.
We are thrilled to announce our membership of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). Joining ASI underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible practices within the aluminium industry. As a member, we aim to leverage ASI’s expertise and collaborate with industry leaders to drive positive change, promote responsible sourcing, and contribute to a more sustainable future for the entire aluminium value chain. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to making a meaningful impact together.
– Dr. Eng, Mahmoud Agour, CEO of Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum)
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.
ALUMINIUM Business Summit 2023, 7-8 November, 2023, Düsseldorf, Germany. Chris Bayliss (Director of Standards) will be presenting.
CRU World Aluminium Conference 2024, 14-16 May, 2024, London, UK. ASI's participation in the program is under development. More information on the event website.
During the first week of October, the members of ASI Association Member IAEG met in London. ASI was invited to present on responsible sourcing, GHG pathways and security of supply in the aluminium value chain.
We're delighted to share that Gabriel, Vicky, and Marieke from the ASI Secretariat have been appointed to to key technical committees, strengthening ASI's role in shaping sustainable practices within the aluminium industry.
Using a top-down approach, the session analyses the increasing demand for automotive aluminium, considering trends like vehicle electrification and larger car preferences, and the subsequent challenges in curbing GHG emissions and waste. Simultaneously, a bottom-up approach is presented, focusing on an aluminium production plant, showcasing a nuanced carbon and material accounting method that promises enhanced robustness and cost-saving opportunities. This analysis, grounded in a real-world case study, aims to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the intricate web of material flows and their potential impact on the industry's carbon footprint and circularity.
Hindalco Industries Ltd has achieved ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification for its Renukoot Downstream facility in Uttar Pradesh, India. 
MORAVIA CANS is an international and well-respected manufacturer of aluminium aerosol cans and bottles. The Company generates sales of over EUR 100 million from supplies into the UK and EU, plus other overseas markets. The Company has developed a leadership position in its specialist field... 
Jiangsu Kuna Industrial Co., Ltd. is located on the west side of Provincial Road 326 in Xiangshui County Industrial Economic Zone Yancheng City. It was registered and established on July 24, 2018 at the Xiangshui County Market Supervision Administration with a registered capital of RMB 175.4386 million. In the three years of development and growth of the company, we have always provided customers
Guangdong Hongjin Aluminum Investment Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as Huajin Aluminum Group) was founded in 1996 as an enterprise specializing in the research and development of new aluminium-based materials, direct supply of aluminium liquid distribution and grading reduction of recycled aluminium. After nearly 30 years of continuous development, it has 10 factories and 2 professional Research And Development Centers in Central, South and East China with an annual production capacity of 850,000 tons. The product is widely used
Aluminium Co of Egypt (Egyptalum) is a prominent entity within the metallurgical industries sector and operates as a subsidiary of the Metallurgical Industries Company. As a leading player in the aluminium industry, we are driven by our commitment to sustainable practices and responsible sourcing. Our specific interest lies in partnering with the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) to further enhance our environmental, social, and governance performance within the aluminium value chain. By aligning our operations
