Jamie Zinser, Vice President, Global Automotive, Novelis Inc.
Jamie Zinser, Vice President, Global Automotive, Novelis Inc.
The Role of Aluminum in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the Automotive Industry
As the global automotive industry strives to reach ambitious sustainability targets, most notably regarding carbon emissions, it continues to gravitate toward the world’s infinitely recyclable material—aluminum. In fact, aluminum can be recycled and reused endlessly without losing its material properties. This phenomenon is the foundation of a circular economy for the automotive industry fueled by closed-loop and end-of-life recycling.
Customized Circular Economy Programs for Carbon Neutrality and Resource Preservation
To help the automotive industry reduce carbon emissions and ultimately achieve carbon neutrality, as well as reduce waste and preserve natural resources, companies such as Novelis work in partnership with automakers to create and implement customized circular economy programs.
The Benefits of Customized Closed-Loop Recycling Programs for Automakers
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Preserving the value of aluminum alloys
Recycled aluminum is essential for the future of sustainable mobility. A customized, closed-loop and end-of-life recycling program is key to keep like alloys separated, which is critical to maintaining the performance specifications of automotive alloys.
- Aluminum scrap segregation and sorting technologies
- Preservation of value and reduction of primary metal input
- Reduced demand for raw materials
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Reducing CO2 emissions
Recycled aluminum uses approximately 95% less energy than primary aluminum production, resulting in 95% less carbon emissions. Increasing the use of recycled aluminum improves energy efficiency and promotes a true circular economy. Closed-loop agreements with customers allow the recycling of production scrap into new automotive sheet to enhance the sustainability profile of their vehicles.
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Establishing a secure supply chain
Using recycled materials in a circular economy system strengthens the automaker’s supply chain and makes its production schedule less vulnerable to disruptions caused by external factors. The average stamping process turns 30%-40% of an aluminum coil into scrap that can be recycled back into the same product, leveraging aluminum’s unique benefit of being infinitely recyclable without losing its material properties.
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Enhancing economic benefits
Because aluminum is infinitely recyclable, automakers can leverage closed-loop recycling programs to reuse aluminum again and again without impacting its properties. This reduces total vehicle costs and helps maximize the sustainability benefits of aluminum, including its extensive lightweight properties that can enable EV efficiency and allow for traveling longer distances on a single battery charge.
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
With a common goal of a more sustainable future, the automotive and aluminum recycling industries can work together to develop solutions to make the circular economy a reality today.
About the Author
Jamie Zinser is Vice President of Global Automotive at Novelis, where she is responsible for global automotive commercial strategy.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Indicator: Percentage of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- Indicator: Proportion of industries using sustainable practices.
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
- Indicator: Waste generation per capita.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- Indicator: Number of countries with integrated climate change measures in national policies, strategies, and planning.
Analysis
The article discusses the use of aluminum in the automotive industry to achieve sustainability targets, particularly in reducing carbon emissions and waste. Based on this information, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:
1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The article mentions that recycled aluminum uses approximately 95% less energy than primary aluminum production, resulting in 95% less carbon emissions. This aligns with the target of increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (Target 7.2).
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article emphasizes the importance of upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable. The use of closed-loop recycling programs for aluminum in the automotive industry promotes resource-use efficiency and adoption of clean technologies, aligning with Target 9.4.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The article highlights the role of closed-loop recycling programs in reducing waste generation through recycling and reuse. This supports the target of substantially reducing waste generation (Target 12.5).
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
The article mentions that using recycled aluminum in the automotive industry reduces CO2 emissions. This aligns with the target of integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning (Target 13.2).
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Percentage of renewable energy in the global energy mix. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. | Proportion of industries using sustainable practices. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. | Waste generation per capita. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Number of countries with integrated climate change measures in national policies, strategies, and planning. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: waste360.com
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