Aluminum is 100 percent recyclable
We deliver around 1.4 million metric tonnes of aluminum products to customers every year. More than half of the metal had been used and recycled.
Hydro is now using more recycled metal, less water and waste. We are working to ensure that our operations are greener and Hydro is now using more recycled metal, less water and waste than ever before.
Our efforts to improve natural resource efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of our processes are enhancing the attractiveness of aluminum. This is a few of the things we do to shape a more sustainable future.
Increase use of recycled aluminum
Since aluminum is 100 percent recyclable, we strive to use more recycled aluminum. This reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions by up to 95 percent, compared to primary aluminum. Currently, more than half of the aluminum used in Hydro's production is recycled.
This process starts early – we make sure that we develop products that are able to absorb more recycled aluminum. Also, we have an efficient system for recycling internal scrap from our production. Caustic soda also plays an important part – it is used to clean dies of aluminum following the extrusion process. The primary aluminum used in our production is purchased from a limited number of large suppliers, with whom we have long-term contracts.
Water consumption
Hydro focuses on the water used during the production processes of a site as a whole. Total water entering locations (water input) fell by 18 percent in 2015 compared with 2014. Water input per processed tonne also declined by 18 percent in 2015 compared with 2014.
Energy consumption
Total energy consumption increased in 2015 by 0.9 percent over 2014 levels. This has primarily been an effect of increased use of natural gas, which is most likely linked to increased activity at casthouses and increased production levels within Hydro's gas-fired paint line operations. Energy consumption per processed tonne increased in 2015 by 1.1 percent over 2014 levels.