Novelis Doubles Recycling Capacity

Novelis has doubled its recycling capacity over the past five years, helping to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 13 percent, from baseline years 2007-2009, according to the aluminum rolling and recycling company’s 2015 sustainability report.

Recycling aluminum produces 95 percent fewer GHG emissions and requires 95 percent less energy than primary aluminum production, Novelis says.

At the end of fiscal year 2015, Novelis achieved an average of 49 percent recycled aluminum inputs, up 19 percentage points from baseline years of 2007-2009, and a reduction in water use intensity by 22 percent.

The report highlights other achievements including:

• The opening of the world’s largest aluminum recycling center in Nachterstedt, Germany, which can process up to 400,000 metric tons of aluminum scrap annually. This facility advances Novelis’ progress toward increasing recycled inputs, will save 3.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions a year and sets a new global standard for aluminum recycling.
• Optimizing water efficiency. In FY15, Novelis’ plant in Pindamonhangaba, Brazil made significant water efficiency improvements, including automation of its industrial and drinking water systems, helping the company to reach an overall 22 percent reduction in water intensity.
• Supplying lightweight automotive aluminum for the Ford F-150, thereby eliminating 700 pounds from the vehicle and making it highly fuel efficient. Supply for the truck also involves a closed-looped recycling system, ensuring manufacturing scrap is recycled in a closed loop between Novelis and Ford.
• Continued expansion of the company’s portfolio of certified high-recycled aluminum products, including beverage can sheet and the introduction of evercycle for food containers. The evercycle aluminum sheet is certified by SCS Global Services to contain 100 percent recycled aluminum.