ASI development timeline
ASI issues first CoC Certification
A collection of Rio Tinto operations in Australia and Canada – spanning bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting through to casthouses – have been successfully granted ASI’s first Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification. The announcement of the world’s first ASI CoC Certification means that ASI Aluminium will be available on the market, only six months after the launch of ASI’s voluntary standards program.
ASI issues first certifications
An alumina refinery, five aluminium smelters and associated casting, recycling, waste management and infrastructure facilities in Canada, owned and operated by Rio Tinto, are the first to be certified against ASI’s ground-breaking Performance Standard for environmental, social and governance performance. In addition, Rio Tinto’s bauxite mine in Gove, Australia, is the first mine to receive ASI Performance Standard certification and the second ASI Certification issued.
First ASI Accredited Auditors announced
ASI has received significant interest on the part of internationally-based CABs and, following careful review and several follow-up queries, has the pleasure to announce that BNQ (Bureau de normalisation du Québec) has become the first ASI accredited auditing firm. Details can be found on the accredited auditors page, which will continually be updated as more CABs are accredited.
ASI hits 50 members
In August, IndustriALL Global Union joined as a Civil Society member, and became ASI’s 50th member overall. IndustriALL had already been involved in the ASI in 2014 as the Performance Standard Version 1 was being formulated and launched. Currently, the ASI has 56 members (December 2017).
End of final public consultations on ASI Standards, Guidance and Assurance
On May 5, ASI started a public consultation period on all its Standards and Guidance, as well as the Assurance Manual and Claims Guide, that ended on July 7, 2017. The consultation was an important phase in the Standards development process and led to many improvements to all the normative documentation. More than 300 comments from 28 respondents were received during the 60-day consultation.
Second ASI Annual General Meeting in Montreal, Canada
Responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium took another decisive step forward as over 80 representatives from aluminium producers, users, civil society, associations, government and other stakeholders came together at the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Annual General Meeting (AGM). The event was held on Tuesday 4 April at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Montreal, Canada and was supported by the Government of Quebec, Rio Tinto and the Aluminium Association of Canada.
ASI registered as a charity
ASI was officially registered as a Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commissions (ACNC). The registration has been made effective from the date of ASI’s incorporation on 25 June 2015.
ASI Board and Standards Committee elected and meets at AGM
In April 2016 in Ingolstadt, the newly elected ASI Board and Standards Committee came together for their first in-person meetings, following elections and appointments in March. (Standards Committee shown in photo)
ASI’s Constitution adopted at its inaugural Annual General Meeting
Following extensive consultation with members and stakeholders, ASI adopted its definitive Constitution in April 2016, 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.
ASI Executive Director appointed and ASI incorporated
In March 2015, ASI appointed its first Executive Director, and in June 2015 the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Ltd was incorporated as a non-profit entity for the purposes of developing an independent, third-party certification program.
ASI Performance Standard V1 launched
IUCN convened a multi-stakeholder Standards Setting Group (SSG) and co-ordinated the process from January 2013 to August 2015, resulting in the launch of version 1 (Principles and Criteria) for the ASI Performance Standard in December 2014, as well as initial work on potential indicators of conformance.
Report from Track Record recommending third-party certification system
The result of the formal study was the “Responsible Aluminium Scoping Phase Main Report”, which summarised the industry’s environmental, social and governance sustainability – related risks and opportunities. The report also underscored the need for an international multi-stakeholder approach that could complement existing sustainability programs throughout the aluminium industry.