ASI History

2009-2011

A global group of stakeholders from the aluminium industry, civil society, research and policy organisations, and industrial users of aluminium products joined forces to assess challenges, opportunities and needs. This assessment resulted in a report, the Responsible Aluminium Scoping Phase Main Report, that summarised the industry’s environmental, social and governance sustainability-related risks and opportunities.  The report underscored the need for an international multi-stakeholder approach that could complement existing sustainability programs throughout the aluminium industry.  This finding ultimately led to the establishment of ASI, supported by 14 founding companies.

2012-2014

The organisations supporting ASI invited the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to be the host and coordinator for the initial standard-setting process. ASI’s establishment was announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September 2012.  IUCN convened a multi-stakeholder Standards Setting Group (SSG) and co-ordinated a consensus-building and consultation process resulting in the launch of version 1 of the ASI Performance Standard.

2015

In May, ASI appointed its first Executive Director, and in June the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Ltd was incorporated as a non-profit entity for the purposes of developing an independent, third-party certification program.  It was also registered as a Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).

2016

Following extensive consultation with members and stakeholders, ASI adopted its definitive Constitution in April, at its inaugural Annual General Meeting, held in Ingolstadt, Germany. The ASI Constitution defined ASI’s governance model, also summarised in the ASI Governance Handbook adopted by the Board later that year.  The newly elected ASI Board and Standards Committee came together for their first in-person meetings, following elections and appointments in March.

2017

After two public consultations (and other elements that fed into the path to launch) followed by in-depth discussion and deliberation of the feedback received by the ASI Standards Committee, the ASI Standards and Certification program was approved by the ASI Board of Directors.  The first ASI Accredited Audit Firm was approved just prior to the program’s launch in December.

2018

The first ASI Certifications were issued for the Performance Standard in April, and for the Chain of Custody Standards in July.  The ASI program continues to grow strongly during this and subsequent years.