Alcoa Primary Aluminum Receives Cradle to Cradle ® Certification
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that it is has received Cradle to Cradle ® Certification ? Silver for its primary
aluminum. Cradle to Cradle ® Certification is an independent
environmental certification process for materials and products that
assesses the total impact of a product on human health and the
environment. The announcement was made at the Aluminium 2010 show in
Essen, Germany.
Alcoa is the first aluminum company to receive Cradle to Cradle ®
Certification from MBDC
(McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), a global sustainability
consulting and product certification firm that developed the Cradle to
Cradle ® concept in 1995.
'Cradle to Cradle ® Certification is landmark recognition of
the uniquely sustainable characteristics of Alcoa aluminum,? said Kevin
Anton, Chief Sustainability Officer for Alcoa. 'Through this
certification, Alcoa can assure its customers the company is continuing
to improve the sustainability of our metal from initial production
through use, and then recycling.?
Cradle to Cradle ® Certification is a multi-attribute
eco-label that assesses a product′s safety to humans and the environment
and design for future life cycles. Unlike single-attribute eco-labels,
MBDC′s certification program takes a comprehensive approach to
evaluating the sustainability of a product and the practices employed in
manufacturing the product. The materials and manufacturing practices of
each product are assessed in five categories: Material Health, Material
Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social
Responsibility.
'Alcoa is showing an increasing commitment to making its products safe,
healthy and recyclable,' said Jay Bolus, Vice President, Technical
Operations for MBDC. 'We congratulate Alcoa on its Silver certification
and look forward to continuing to work with the company to help it
create a positive impact as an organization.?
Process improvements Alcoa has made in the way it produces aluminum ?
from reductions in energy use, deploying efficient water management
systems, and recycling ? helped earn the certification, and contribute
to the Vision 2050 goals of reaching a sustainable global society in
which nine billion people live well and within the limits of the planet.
Alcoa has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 44% since 1990 while
doubling capacity. In the last 10 years the company has reduced its
process water use by 29% and landfill waste by 70%. About 63% of Alcoa′s
smelting operations worldwide are powered with renewable hydroelectric
power.
'Customers who use Alcoa′s aluminum start their product development with
a Cradle to Cradlesustainable material,? said Tim Reyes,
President of Alcoa Materials Management. 'They are assured that when
they buy aluminum from Alcoa, they are making a smart environmental
choice.?
Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and nearly 75% of all aluminum ever
produced since 1888 is still in use today. Recycling aluminum uses 95%
less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions than making
metal from new materials.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world′s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated
aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum
industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the
aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa ® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa′s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years and approximately
75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
About MBDC
MBDC is a global consulting and certification firm that helps clients
create a positive footprint on the planet by implementing the Cradle to
Cradle ® framework. The framework is based on the book by internationally
recognized architect/designer William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael
Braungart Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
Cradle to Cradle Certification is an external certification process that
can be applied across industries, from building materials to consumer
products. Cradle to Cradle Consulting helps clients integrate the larger
Cradle to Cradle ® design framework to optimize product life cycles,
organizational operations and decision-making. In May, MBDC announced
the transfer of the protocol for Cradle to Cradle Certification of
products to the Green Products Innovation Institute, a non-profit
organization based in California. www.gpinnovation.org.
Cradle to Cradle ® is a registered trademark of MBDC. Cradle to Cradle
CertifiedCM is a certification mark of MBDC. www.mbdc.com.