Elval, the aluminium rolling division of ElvalHalcor S.A., a leading aluminium manufacturer, participated in the discussion on the acceleration of aluminium beverage can circularity at COP28. COP28 is the 28th United Nations Climate Change "Conference of the Parties", organized to build consensus and facilitate decision-making progress on climate action and was held from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai.
In the panel discussion with the leading companies of the global aluminium industry, Panagiotis Tserolas, Sustainability Senior Manager of Elval, highlighted the company’s commitment to support the establishment of the framework and the effective policies needed to unleash the circular potential of aluminium. “Increasing recycling rates of used beverage cans (UBCs) around the world is a critical step to realize our common decarbonization targets”, he noted: “Aided by the inherent properties and recyclability of aluminium, we firmly believe in what we can accomplish with collective action, across all stakeholders, policymakers, industry and consumers, towards our common goal of a circular, low-carbon economy and society.”
The target set by industry leaders at COP28 is to reach 100% recycling of aluminium beverage and drink cans by 2050, and up to 80 per cent by 2030. Currently, more than 70 per cent of aluminium beverage cans are recycled into new products in Europe, but this figure falls short of making the complete contribution necessary for achieving the 1.5 oC -degree target. The number of beverage cans is set to increase from 420 billion in 2020 to 630 billion by 2030 and data has revealed that recycling all cans globally in 2030 would save up to 60 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Addressing the panel, Panagiotis Tserolas also underlined: “The investment strategy of Elval has led to a three-fold and higher increase of the company’s recycled content metrics across the board, with special emphasis in canstock. We should think of global recycling rates as a very robust indirect index of the carbon emissions that we can avoid for each ton of UBC that does not end up in landfill but returns in the loop. There is untapped potential, not only for the can-making industry, but for the production and consumption model that we envision.”
About Elval:
Elval is the aluminium rolling division of ElvalHalcor SA (ELHA:ATH), a leading global aluminium and copper manufacturer with a strong production base across 15 plants, cutting-edge technology and a solid market presence in more than 90 countries. Elval has 50 years of rolling and recycling expertise, designing and manufacturing innovative aluminium solutions while building trusted partnerships across the globe. The extensive custom-made product portfolio serves the packaging, transportation, automotive, HVAC&R, building and construction, energy and industrial markets. Through continuous investments in R&D&I and the in-house Technology Centre, we invest in highly specialized human talent, responsible production and environmental protection, enabling the transition to climate neutrality and the contribution of aluminium to a circular economy. For more information about Elval, please visit the website
www.elval.com
About International Aluminium Institute:
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) is the only body representing the global primary aluminium industry. The Institute has the most comprehensive global data on Aluminium with more than 50 years of analysis on production, consumption, energy use and environmental impact. For more information, visit
www.internationalaluminium.org