- The Aluminium Greenhouse gas emissions sector declined despite a 3.9% production increase in 2022.
- This caused a shift towards less carbon-intensive technology, and increased recycling efforts drive emissions reduction.
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) has reported declining greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to the aluminium sector despite a 3.9% production increase in 2022.
Emissions dropped from 1.13 billion to 1.11 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. IAI Secretary General Miles Prosser noted the importance of these reductions, stating they signify a positive trend.
Factors contributing to this decline include adopting less carbon-intensive technology and increased recycling efforts. The decrease is attributed to factors such as the increasing use of hydropower in China, the leading aluminium producer globally.
Other regions also embrace renewable energy sources, reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. The rise in recycled aluminium production, which consumes significantly less energy than primary production, has also played a pivotal role.
According to IAI data, global recycled production saw a notable 6% increase in 2022, while direct output rose by 2.8%. While power generation remains the largest source of carbon emissions, other aspects of aluminium operations, such as using carbon anodes and transportation, also contribute to CO2 emissions.
Companies like Norway’s Hydro anticipate a surge in demand for low-carbon aluminium products. This signals a promising shift towards sustainability in the industry.