Alcoa introduces low-carbon alumina brand Eco Source

Alcoa has expanded its Sustana line of products with the introduction of Eco Source, the industry’s first low-carbon, smelter-grade alumina brand.

The low-carbon brand EcoS ource is produced with no more than 0.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per tonne of alumina, two times better than the industry’s average of 1.2 tCO2e. Alcoa’s measurement includes direct emissions from the company’s bauxite mining and alumina refining processes and indirect emissions from the energy consumed in those processes.

Alcoa has the world’s largest third-party alumina business and, according to the company, its refining system has the industry’s lowest carbon footprint. The refineries that produce Eco Source alumina have an average carbon emissions profile better than 90% of the other alumina refineries operating today.

“Alcoa’s line of Sustana products can provide advantages for customers who want to improve their environmental footprint,” said president and CEO Roy Harvey. “Our leadership in sustainability is represented with emissions measured throughout the process. Not all aluminium is created equally, and our mine-to-metal approach is a key differentiator for these products.”

Eco Source alumina adds to Alcoa’s existing Sustana line that also includes:

Eco Lum low-carbon aluminium is produced with less than 4.0 tCO_2e/t Al produced, including both direct and indirect emissions for bauxite mining, alumina refining, smelting and casting. This performance is approximately 3.5 times better than the industry average and is offered in a full range of primary products, including billet, foundry, slab, unalloyed high purity, and P1020.

EcoDura aluminium is made with a minimum of 50% recycled content. The product can also deliver benefits for building and construction customers in terms of Leed certification points.

All Sustana products can be sourced from Alcoa facilities certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).