The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), in collaboration with aluminium industry leaders such as Ball and Rexam, has introduced a comprehensive standard that aims to improve the industry’s environmental, social and governance performance throughout its entire value chain, including plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
After a year-long development effort, the ASI Performance Standard will address issues relevant to the production and stewardship of aluminium, from extraction of bauxite to the producers of commercial and consumer goods and the recycling of pre- and post-consumer aluminium scrap. The standard focuses on eleven key issues: business integrity, policy and management, transparency, material stewardship, greenhouse gas emissions, emissions, effluents and waste, water, biodiversity, human rights, labour rights, and occupational health and safety.
“Rexam first got involved in ASI back in 2012 and we are delighted to have played our role in developing this landmark sustainability standard for aluminium. Rexam produces over 55 billion aluminium beverage cans per year and this standard will allow us to provide independent, credible and verifiable information to customers across all stages of the aluminium value chain. No other packaging material is able to demonstrate this level of sustainability assessment,” said John Revess, Rexam’s group sustainability director.
“The development of a global standard that encourages responsible sourcing throughout the aluminum supply chain is a significant step in the right direction for the aluminum industry and for Ball as we continually work to drive operational excellence, reduce our environmental impacts and drive social progress,” said Bjoern Kulmann, Ball’s director of sustainability.
The Standard will be implemented through a third party certification system involving all industry players along the aluminium value chain.
“The aluminium industry is committed to maximizing the value that its products and activities generate, while minimizing their impacts. Working together with industry representatives of the aluminium value chain and of civil society to improve the industry’s performance and make it more sustainable is a win-win for everyone,” said Jostein Soreide, Manager Sustainability and LCA of Hydro, and co-chair of the ASI Standard Setting Group.
