Alcoa Foundation Announces Sustainability Investments on International Corporate Philanthropy Day
Total Investment of $7 Million to Reduce, Recycle, Replenish
As the world celebrates International Corporate Philanthropy Day, Alcoa
Foundation has announced a new $7 million investment to address regional
environmental challenges, improve energy efficiency and enhance global
reforestation projects. The investment aligns with Alcoa Foundation′s
sustainability focus: "Reduce, Recycle, Replenish,′ and will engage
employees and communities where Alcoa operates to enhance the
environment.
'Alcoa is a part of the fabric of over 200 communities around the world,
and for our operations to thrive, the places in which we operate must
thrive as well, said Paula Davis, Alcoa Foundation President.
'International Corporate Philanthropy Day is an opportunity to reaffirm
our commitment to a model of "shared value creation′, where together
with governments, businesses, civic groups and our employees, we work to
make those communities stronger for us all.?
Initiatives supported by Alcoa Foundation′s $7 million "Reduce, Recycle,
Replenish′ commitments include:
- Innovative research for actionable solutions: $4 million for
ten, two-year Advancing Sustainability research initiatives
focused on regional environmental challenges in Australia, Brazil,
Canada, China, Europe, Russia and the United States. The partnerships
will bring together local thought leaders to address key regional
challenges, including natural resources management, energy and
environmental economics, and responsible water resources management
for sustainable development.
- Reforestation around the world: A new $1.1 million investment
in the Alcoa Ten Million Trees program, which aims to plant 10
million new trees around the world by 2020. Alcoans will improve air
quality by planting tree in their communities through partnerships
with The Nature Conservancy, American Forests, Global ReLeaf and
Greening Australia. In 2011 the company will also fund 125 tree
plantings in Alcoa communities around the world to celebrate the 125th
anniversary of the modern aluminum smelting process invented by
Charles Martin Hall, Alcoa′s co-founder.
- Sustainability education in the United States: An expansion of
Alcoa′s signature Make an Impact program through the Make an
Impact: Change Our 2morrow (CO2) Schools Challenge, in partnership
with the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. In its initial phase the
program will engage 8,000 students in 15 schools across the United
States to reduce their environmental footprint and help families save
money on home energy.
- Water Conservation in China: A new partnership with the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) to ensure sustainable hydropower along the Mekong
River in China, a critical water source for almost 10 million people.
Through the development of an additional 12 dams on the Mekong River,
the project will promote water security, ensure habitat protection,
and address the river′s long-term viability by promoting responsible
water governance, strategic conservation of important watersheds and
sustainable hydropower development through focus on sites in the
Yunnan Province.
More information about Ten Million Trees and Make an Impact, including
resources such as Alcoa′s Carbon Footprint Calculator, is available at www.alcoa.com/tenmilliontrees
and http://alcoa.pewclimate.org.
About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the
U.S., with assets of approximately US $420 million. In addition to
addressing local needs in communities where Alcoa operates, Alcoa
Foundation is focused on promoting environmental stewardship, enabling
economic and social sustainability, and preparing tomorrow's leaders
through education and learning. Alcoa Foundation was founded more than
50 years ago and has invested more than US $515 million since 1952.
Alcoa employees share their energy, passion and purpose to make a
difference in our communities through the Alcoa Volunteers Program,
which last year recorded 650,000 hours of service to 9,000 charitable
organizations. Their time was matched with US $4 million in Alcoa
volunteer grants. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com/foundation.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world′s leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world′s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
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 nine 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.
Alcoa Inc.
Libby Archell, 212-836-2719