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Resource-efficiency through life cycle analysis in aluminum industry

According to Waste Online, recycling aluminum requires only 5% of the energy and produces only 5% of the CO2 emissions as compared with primary production of aluminum and reduces the waste going to landfill. Recycling 1 kilogram of aluminum saves up to 6 kilograms of bauxite, 4 kilograms of chemical products and 14 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Also, aluminum quality does not deteriorate as it goes through subsequent recycling cycles.

Norsk Hydro has been in the aluminum business since 1948. For many decades, demand for aluminum has grown faster than other competing metals. The transport sector, for example, is one of the main end-users, with the highest growth rate. In 2001, the company produced over 1.5 million tonnes of aluminum.

As producing primary aluminum is not the most energy efficient way to meet this growing demand, Norsk Hydro began exploring alternatives based on eco-efficiency criteria. The real benefits came when the company adopted a life-cycle analysis approach, evaluating production and potential eco-efficiency opportunities in all its systems and its entire supply chain. As a result, the company decided to strengthen its recycling and remelting programme for aluminum.

During the 1990s, the company substantially increased its remelting capacity. In 1992, remelted aluminum accounted for 180,000 tonnes, while primary aluminum levels were much higher, at 610,000 tonnes. By 2005, recycled and remelted aluminum production had grown by 1000 percent to 1.8 million tonnes.