Carbon Footprint of Primary Aluminum Production Halved: LCA Report

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to recently published third party life cycle assessment (LCA) report, the carbon footprint of primary aluminum production in North America has dropped by 49% since 1991.

The footprint of recycled aluminum production has dropped by 60%. The energy and carbon impact of aluminum production in North America hit the lowest point in history. During this time period, the energy needed to produce primary and recycled aluminum has dropped by 27% and 49% respectively.

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Between 2010 and 2016, the carbon footprint of primary and secondary aluminum production recorded decline between 5% and 21%. The report says that North American aluminum production is among the cleanest in the world. The regional production relies heavily on renewable hydropower, it noted.

The report, developed in partnership with sustainability consultancy Sphera, is based on aluminum and aluminum products manufactured in North America in 2016. It quantifies impacts over the entire aluminum product life cycle.

Commenting on the report findings, Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association said that the U.S. industry has continued to innovate and find ways to produce the metal in an environmentally sustainable manner.