What is Green Aluminium? Uses, Benefits & Future Scope

As covered in our article on the history of aluminium, it was first produced in 1825 by Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted. Since then, there has been a conventional method of creation that involves extracting alumina from bauxite ore through something known as the Bayer process. This method was then added to and perfected, causing aluminium to become one of the most widely used metals in existence by the 20th century.

This method is an effective way to produce aluminium, but it has its downsides, including significant energy consumption and carbon emissions. Recognising these environmental impacts, there's a growing movement towards innovative methods aimed at reducing carbon emissions in aluminium production.

So, how much carbon does the traditional method of producing aluminium create? This can depend on many factors, but it has been estimated that aluminium was responsible for 4% of global emissions in 2018.

Green aluminium, then, is a term that refers to aluminium produced with a reduced environmental footprint. It involves using technologies and practices aimed at minimizing the energy consumption, emissions, and general environmental impact throughout the production process.

Many different approaches, such as advanced smelting technologies, efficiency processes, and renewable energy sources can all mean that produced aluminium could be considered 'green.'

Another contributing factor to whether produced aluminium is considered green is its percentage of recycled content. Aluminium is one of the most widely recycled metals in existence. In many industries, recycling rates of aluminium are above 90%. This is because making recycled aluminium takes roughly 5% of the energy needed to make new aluminium.

The introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by European regulatory bodies marks a significant shift in industrial production, particularly in sectors like cement, steel, iron, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen, and aluminium.

Specifically for the aluminium industry, CBAM imposes a carbon cost on imports that don't meet the EU's environmental standards. This mechanism effectively levels the playing field for domestic producers adhering to stricter environmental regulations and encourages global aluminium producers to adopt greener practices.

By doing so, CBAM directly incentivizes the production of green aluminium, as it becomes more cost-effective for companies to reduce their carbon footprint rather than face the financial penalties associated with higher carbon emissions.

This shift towards green aluminium is likely to bring several advantages:

• Firstly, the reduced carbon footprint will align companies with global efforts to reduce climate change through carbon emissions.
• It also means that the use of cleaner technologies and sustainable practices will promote environmental conservation.
• Finally, companies who adopt green aluminium practices will stand at the forefront of a growing demand for environmentally responsible products.

It appears that green aluminium may be the future for the industry. As sustainability becomes a focal point in industry practices, and new mechanisms such as CBAM are introduced across the world, green aluminium is likely to become a more common product in the future.

We are currently in a transitionary phase regarding carbon emissions. Industries across the world are beginning to embrace the need for lower carbon emissions in their production methods. This is not just a trend but a necessity, as highlighted by the UK Government's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The steel industry, for instance, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is already under scrutiny to reduce its carbon footprint. This sets a precedent for the aluminium industry to follow suit.

Many companies are investing in renewable energy sources to power their production, and new technologies aim to minimise environmental impact. The move towards decarbonisation in industries like steel is a clear indicator of the broader shift towards sustainable practices.

In short, we can say with some certainty that there will be a broad trend towards more sustainable industry practices, influenced by governmental policies like the UK's net-zero target. We can expect that this will be the same for aluminium, as industries align with these environmental goals.