We have for several decades monitored our impact on the environment as part of a holistic approach to value creation. The increasing urgency of the situation has led us to establish a thorough climate strategy with a revised set of priorities. This is an integral part of our overall business strategy, including reducing the environmental impact of our production activities as well as taking advantage of business opportunities by enabling our customers do the same. Some of the measures we pursue include:
- Using viable energy sources
- Reducing energy consumption and emissions in production
- Reducing CO2 emissions through the use of our products
- Increasing recycling of aluminium
- Developing our solar energy business
Total greenhouse gas emissions from our ownership equity have decreased from 12.5 million mt CO2 equivalents (CO2e) in 1990 to 4.8 million mt CO2e in 2009. This is a 62 percent decrease. The 25 percent decrease from 2008 to 2009 is due to the closure of our Søderberg plant at Karmøy, Norway, to reduced production in 2009 and to operational improvements.
During the same period, we have also reduced specific greenhouse gas emissions from primary production by more than 60 percent. After revising in 2009 our specific targets, our goal is a specific direct emission of 1.52 mt CO2e/mt aluminium in 2013. This is 19 percent lower than the current level of 1.85 mt CO2e/mt aluminium.
In 2009, we strengthened our efforts on recycling, and we will in 2010 develop a new recycling strategy.
Spent potlining (SPL) from the electrolytic cells used in primary aluminium production is defined as hazardous waste. In 2009, Hydro produced 28,000 mt of SPL, a 31 percent decrease from 2008. This was primarily due to the closure of the Søderberg plant at Karmøy, and reduced production in general.
