Sustainability

The aluminium industry employs a lifecycle approach to address future challenges, focusing not only on the energy required to produce aluminium products but also on the energy savings to be made through their use and reuse. It is in the use phase that the majority of energy is used and/or saved (e.g. during the useful life of cars, buildings, aircraft, etc). The high strength-to-weight ratio of aluminium plays a crucial role in producing lighter vehicles and other forms of transport, reducing fuel consumption without compromising performance and safety. The use of lightweight aluminium components in a vehicle can save six to twelve times the energy taken to produce the primary aluminium used in its construction. Up to eight per cent fuel savings can be realised for every 10% reduction in weight. One kilogram of aluminium used to replace heavier materials in a car or light truck, has the potential to achieve significant energy savings over the lifetime of the vehicle. For other vehicles, such as trains, ferries and aircraft, the potential savings are even greater.

The International Aluminium Institute material mass flow model’s projections show that greenhouse gas emissions from the world wide aluminium industry will be fully offset through a combination of reduction measures, increased recycling and the use of aluminium in transport by around 2020.

ABx is engaging with land owners and local communities and endeavouring to ensure that the benefits of mining are shared with present and future generations. Good environmental management and rehabilitation, which ensures that all potential land-use options are conserved, is one of the ways in which ABx is meeting its responsibility to the wider, global community. Other ways in which ABx supports local communities is by providing:

• employment under conditions that comply with accepted labour standards
• support to local businesses
• support to community initiatives and various social programmes
• infrastructure that will benefit communities into the future

It is possible for everyone to gain from mining activities.