Hydro takes first step towards certification of responsible aluminium across the value chain

2018-11-19

Nov. 19, 2018 - With the ambition to offer fully certified Hydro aluminium to the market in 2019, Hydro Hoogezand is now the world’s first extrusion plant to obtain the Performance Standard certification by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).

ASI is the highest internationally recognized standard for robust environmental, social and governance practices across the aluminium lifecycle of production, use and recycling.

Hydro is currently in the process of certifying in total 15 plants. As Hydro Hoogezand, the Netherlands, is the world’s first extrusion plant to obtain the certification, Hydro takes an important step towards becoming the first fully integrated aluminium company to offer aluminium certified in all parts of the value chain.

 “We always strive to be frontrunners in our industry. As our customers need to reach their own sustainability targets and meet the demand from more climate-conscious end-consumers, we believe the market will increasingly demand the most responsible aluminium,” says Hydro’s President and CEO, Svein Richard Brandtzæg.

Part of a broader sustainability push

The ambition to offer fully certified aluminium in 2019 is core to Hydro’s strategy of offering the most sustainable products and solutions to the market.

“Seen in combination with our carbon footprint being amongst the lowest of any aluminium company in the world, the ASI certification process further strengthens our dedication to sustainability and responsibility, all the way from bauxite extraction to production of advanced aluminium products and solutions,” says Brandtzæg.

In 2017, Hydro launched two of the most sustainable aluminium alloys currently available on the market, the certified low-carbon products 4.0 and 75R. Hydro 4.0 guarantees a maximum carbon footprint of 4.0 CO2 per kg aluminium during its entire life cycle, while Hydro 75R contains a traceable percentage of minimum 75% post-consumer recycled content.

Hydro also recently announced an investment to increase production of Hydro 75R at its plant in Azuqueca, Spain, as well as expanding remelt operations at its Slovalco aluminium plant in Slovakia for it to serve as a remelter for conversion scrap from extrusion plants in Central Europe.