Reduced greenhouse gases from Aluminium production

The International Aluminium Institute reports a 14% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions from the production processes of aluminium, including bauxite mining, from 2000 to 2005

The production processes of primary aluminium, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, anode production, aluminium smelting and casting, between 2000 and 2005, cut direct greenhouse gas emissions despite a 20 percent growth in primary aluminium production over the period.

The reduction since 2000 has been driven primarily by an impressive 56% reduction in perfluorcarbons (CF4 and C2F6) per tonne of primary aluminium produced, combined with a 12% reduction in other direct emissions.

Furthermore, through energy efficiency improvements, the industry has reduced indirect emissions from electricity production by 8% per tonne of aluminium produced.

Overall, reductions of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission have resulted in a decrease of two tonnes of CO2 equivalents for every tonne of aluminium produced since 2000.

Over the same period, the production of aluminium from recycled products worldwide rose from 13 to 15 million tonnes per year, saving energy and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the demands of modern society for strong, lightweight, safe and sustainable aluminium products.

Recycling of aluminium products needs only 5% of the energy required for primary aluminium production.

The aluminium industry has taken a leadership role to establish a uniform global monitoring approach to greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

The industry publishes the results of 13 sustainability indicators annually and a complete life cycle inventory report every five years.

The latest Life Cycle Inventory is based on results from nearly three quarters of global primary aluminium production and the industry is working aggressively to increase the number of plants included in the survey.

Moreover the aluminium industry supports an approach to emissions reduction in which all stages of the life cycle are included.

Hence, as well as reducing emissions from its own processes, the aluminium industry is also working with its supply chain partners and other stakeholders to maximize the life cycle benefits from the intrinsic qualities of aluminium, including its light weight, strength and recyclability.

A recent life cycle study showed that automotive aluminium in passenger cars manufactured in 2006 will lead to potential global savings of approximately 140 million tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

The full life cycle inventory report is available on the IAI website: http://www.world-aluminium.org/Resources/Publications/Download.

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