The European Aluminium Association has released its 2024 Environmental Profile Report, a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of the aluminium industry on the entire aluminium value chain in Europe.
The report highlights significant reductions in carbon emissions due to improvements in energy efficiency and increased use of low-carbon electricity. However, the findings also highlight the urgent need for policy support to sustain low-carbon aluminium production in Europe and mitigate the growing dependence on high-carbon imports. Key points of the report include:
1. European primary aluminium continues to lead the way in reducing emissions. The carbon footprint of primary aluminium produced in Europe continues to show a downward trend due to gradual improvements and increased reliance on low-carbon electricity. In 2023, carbon emissions from primary aluminum in Europe fell from 6.7kgCO2/kgAl in 2015 to 6.3kgCO2/kgAl, a reduction of 5%. This progress builds on a long-term trend that has seen emissions decrease by more than 50 percent since 1990. The carbon footprint of primary aluminium in Europe is now nearly 60% lower than the global average, thanks in large part to the increased use of low-carbon energy sources by smelters. By 2023, for example, 78% of electricity in primary aluminium production in Europe will come from renewable sources, up from 67% in 2015.
The representative carbon index of aluminum products in Europe
Unit: kg CO2/kg AL
Carbon footprint of primary aluminium produced in Europe (Cradle to Gate)
6.3
Primary aluminum carbon footprint used in Europe (Cradle to gate)
9.7
Aluminum sheet production emissions (door to door)
0.41
Aluminum foil production emissions (Door to door)
1.1
Aluminium extrusion production (door to door)
0.38
Aluminum remelting production (door-to-door)
0.26
Waste aluminium refining production (door-to-door, without taking into account carbon offsetting for aluminium recovery from salt slag)
0.41
Waste aluminum refining production (door-to-door, considering carbon offsetting for aluminum recovery from salt slag)
0.37
The added value of alumina recovered from the salt slag recovery process has led to a further reduction in key environmental indicators. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of the refining process declined further, to 367 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of aluminum ingots.
2. The aluminum production and recycling industry has made significant progress in reducing emissions between 2015 and 2021. Carbon emissions from aluminum remelting decreased by 22 percent, while emissions from refining decreased by 4 percent. Recycling remains the cornerstone of aluminium sustainability, using only 5% of the energy required to produce primary aluminium. Significant environmental improvements have also been achieved in aluminum processing processes such as rolling, aluminum foil and extruded materials. For example, the global Warming potential (GWP) of aluminum extrusion processes decreased by 44 percent, reflecting significant improvements in energy efficiency across the value chain.
3. The energy crisis and growing dependence on high-carbon aluminium imports threaten the EU's climate targets. After already closing two aluminium smelters since 2015, the energy crisis has led to the closure of another five EU aluminium smelters since 2021. This has significantly reduced primary aluminium capacity in the EU region, forcing Europe to rely more on aluminium imports, which now account for 51% of European primary aluminium consumption, up from 48% in 2021. While imports from Russia fell sharply, from 39 per cent in 2015 to 18 per cent in 2023, the gap was filled by imports from regions such as the Middle East and Central Asia (such as India), where aluminium is mainly produced using fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. This shift has driven a 33% increase in imports from these regions and led to an 11% increase in the carbon footprint of imported aluminum since 2021. The carbon intensity of these imported products is now significantly higher than that of primary aluminium produced in Europe, which has half the carbon footprint of imported ingots. This growing reliance on high-carbon-emitting aluminium imports not only endangers the EU's climate goals, it also highlights the urgency of boosting the production of primary and recycled aluminium in Europe, especially since aluminium is a strategic raw material for the EU's green transition and its demand is set to grow significantly in the coming years.
Paul Voss, Director General of EuroA, said: "If we really want to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, then both industry and policymakers need to step up. The industry has made significant progress, but we are approaching the limits of what current technology can provide. Eu policymakers must develop strong industrial policies that accelerate the shift to clean, affordable energy and encourage investment in breakthrough technologies and recycling. Without bold action over the next five years, Europe risks becoming entirely dependent on high-carbon footprint aluminum imports, undermining the European aluminum industry's strategic autonomy and green transition."
