Nigel Gibbon, General Manager, Rolled Products, U.K.
"About 45 billion aluminium cans are produced in Europe each year. Recycling them only makes good sense.
Our rolled products business supplies aluminium can stock to some of the biggest can producers in Europe, and we work closely with them to minimize waste and maximize recycling.
Minimizing waste starts with the material itself and the manufacturing process. That means using the right amount of aluminium – and no more – in each can.
When it comes to recycling, Hydro and our customers cooperate between themselves and with industry groups. We have a good relationship with our customers, based on a common approach. But most of our activity – in terms of the environment – is through joint industry bodies. It has to be.
Our partner in the U.K. is Alupro. In fact, Hydro is a founder member. It’s an integrated, forward-thinking group that represents around 75 percent of the aluminium packaging chain.
Alupro works with government on legislative issues and to directly stimulate collection and recycling. One Alupro program is “Trees for Africa,” which Hydro and a major customer of ours are involved in. As part of the project, a tree is planted in Africa for every tonne of aluminium cans and foil recycled in the U.K.
Since Alupro started tree planting incentive campaigns in 2003, the amount of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled each year has grown significantly. And more than 100,000 trees have already been grown in the U.K. and in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Not only are we recycling all these cans, we’re planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."
Remelt network
Aluminium is not waste at the end of its “first life.” It’s a resource that can be reused nearly indefinitely, saving energy and reducing emissions. Our global network of aluminium remelters supplies top-quality casthouse products from scrap.
Climate awareness
Our customers are showing a growing interest in viewing their products in a climate and life-cycle perspective. This strengthens the demand for products made from recycled metal – and how aluminium can help us meet the climate change challenge.
