Sustainable Aluminum: Decarbonizing Production to Meet Global Demand and Climate Goals

The growing demand for aluminum, driven by its increased use in sectors like transportation, construction, and packaging, necessitates a focus on sustainable production methods. Alongside scaling up primary aluminum production, there is a critical need to expand recycling efforts since recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy compared to primary production. However, decarbonizing primary aluminum remains a significant challenge, with the industry aiming to reduce its current global emissions from 15.1 t of CO2 per tonne of aluminum to near-zero levels.

Addressing this challenge requires collaboration across the aluminum value chain, with partnerships and coalitions playing a crucial role in driving decarbonization efforts. The First Movers Coalition (FMC), launched during COP26, exemplifies this approach, with companies committing to purchase aluminum with a carbon footprint below 3 t of CO2 per tonne by 2030 and increasing their use of recycled aluminum to 50%. These commitments set ambitious targets for the industry, pushing suppliers and stakeholders to adopt greener technologies and practices.

Innovative technologies, like the ELYSIS process developed by Alcoa and Rio Tinto, are paving the way for a low-carbon aluminum future. ELYSIS eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process by producing oxygen instead of CO2. Supported by governments and companies like Apple, ELYSIS has started producing low-carbon aluminum at an industrial scale, marking a significant step towards decarbonizing the aluminum industry. Such advancements, combined with strong industry commitments, are essential to meeting global climate goals and transforming aluminum production.