Hydro to Supply Low-Carbon Recycled Aluminium for General Motors Cadillac OPTIQ EV

Aluminum  |  2026-08-06 04:44:37   |   By

Hydro CIRCAL has a carbon footprint of 1.5 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of aluminium or lower. It delivers nearly 70% reduction in emissions compared with the average carbon footprint of primary aluminium production in North America.

Summary
  • Hydro, Shape Corp., and GM are introducing Hydro CIRCAL recycled aluminium into the front bumper beam of the Cadillac OPTIQ electric vehicle.
  • The aluminium will be produced from recycled end-of-life products at Hydro's Michigan recycling facility, supporting circular manufacturing.
  • Hydro CIRCAL cuts emissions by nearly 70% compared with the average primary aluminium produced in North America, while enhancing supply chain resilience.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Hydro, automotive supplier Shape Corp., and General Motors (GM) have partnered to introduce Hydro CIRCAL, a high-recycled aluminium product, into electric vehicles.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hydro will supply recycled aluminium for the front bumper beam used in the Cadillac OPTIQ electric vehicle. Shape Corp. will manufacture and assemble the bumper system to GM's specifications before it is integrated into the EV platform. Incidentally, the front bumper beam is a key crash-management component positioned behind the vehicle's bumper cover.

ALSO READ:

Hydro Q2 2026 Earnings Jump on Higher Aluminum Prices

Hydro Signs 85,000-Ton Low-Carbon Aluminum Supply Deal with Nexans

Hydro will manufacture the recycled aluminium at its recycling facility in Cassopolis, Michigan, using aluminium recovered from end-of-life products such as vehicles, windows, doors, and electrical cables. The recycling process will remelt and transform recovered aluminium into new products for industrial use.

Hydro CIRCAL has a carbon footprint of 1.5 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of aluminium or lower. It delivers nearly 70% reduction in emissions compared with the average carbon footprint of primary aluminium production in North America.

The companies stated that the collaboration highlights how locally recycled materials can support domestic manufacturing, improve supply chain resilience, and advance circular economy goals by returning valuable aluminium to new automotive applications while lowering the carbon footprint.