How Sustainability Has Been Integrated into Aluminum Production

​Aluminum is the second most utilized metal in the world, thanks to its numerous applications. As climate change continues to cause adverse effects, industries and countries are attempting to find new and innovative ways to decarbonize in order to reduce energy costs, meet emissions targets, and avoid carbon border tariffs. The decarbonization of the aluminum industry would have a direct impact on lowering global greenhouse gas.

Some of the innovations aimed at creating sustainable aluminum production include advanced recycling technologies. Recycling innovations such as advanced sorting and separation technologies allow for improved recycling processes that recover a larger percentage of aluminum from scrap materials. Recycling aluminum requires less energy and lowers greenhouse gas emissions than producing new aluminum from raw materials. These technologies have lowered energy consumption and waste, which reduces the environmental footprint associated with aluminum production.

Additionally, gas smelting techniques such as inert anode technology and the use of alternative fuels have been designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Inert anode technology is an alternative to traditional carbon anodes that utilizes materials that don’t release carbon dioxide during the smelting process, which significantly lowers the industry’s carbon footprint.

David D'Addario, New Day Aluminum LLC

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