The First Movers Coalition is a global initiative harnessing the purchasing power of companies to decarbonize seven hard to abate industrial sectors that currently account for 30 percent of global emissions
As members of the FMC, both Ball and Novelis have committed to purchasing 10 percent of all primary aluminum annually as near-zero carbon emissions by 2030. (Credit: Łukasz Dudzic from Pixabay)
Ball Corporation and Novelis, both of which recently joined the World Economic Forum’s newly formed aluminum branch of the First Movers Coalition (FMC), are calling on industry peers to prioritize circularity and encouraging them to join the FMC. Ball and Novelis will lead collaboration across the aluminum industry value chain toward the same goal, creating a pathway for aluminum sectors such as beverage packaging, automotive, aerospace, electronics, and building and construction.
Launched as a partnership between The World Economic Forum and U.S. Department of State, through U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and the Office of Global Partnerships, and in collaboration with U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of Energy, the First Movers Coalition is a global initiative harnessing the purchasing power of companies to decarbonize seven hard to abate industrial sectors that currently account for 30 percent of global emissions: Aluminum, Aviation, Chemicals, Concrete, Shipping, Steel, and Trucking; along with innovative Carbon Removal technologies. More than 50 other FMC members have committed to accelerate innovative technologies to decarbonize these sectors.
As members of the FMC, both Ball and Novelis have committed to purchasing 10 percent of all primary aluminum annually as near-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Both companies have also committed to ensuring that at least 50 percent of all the aluminum used annually is sourced from recycled aluminum by 2030, with Novelis already surpassing this number with 57% of its inputs today being recycled content. Ball is also focused on its 2030 circularity vision for the aluminum beverage packaging industry to achieve 85 percent recycled content.
The aluminum industry as a whole is responsible for two percent of the world’s man-made GHG emissions and emits more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide, due mainly to the electricity required to produce primary aluminum. Demand for aluminum continues to grow as an enabler of the mobility, energy and circular economy transition. Given the size of the challenge, Ball and Novelis are encouraging companies across the downstream and upstream value chain to join them and get involved in accelerating the decarbonization in the aluminum sector.
“Novelis is eager to continue our efforts to decarbonize the aluminum industry, as well as support decarbonization in numerous adjacent industries relying on aluminum, ” said Steve Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novelis Inc. “Recycling aluminum is far less energy-intensive than producing primary aluminum, and we want that energy to come from ‘sustainable’ sources. Aluminum has the potential to reach a near zero-carbon footprint, but it requires investment in clean energy and re-doubling of our commitment to recycling. Partnerships like the First Movers Coalition can spur those investments by supporting an emerging market for developing technologies. Novelis welcomes the opportunity to join FMC and accelerate innovation in our industry.”
Ball and Novelis have a strong history of teaming up to find sustainable solutions to value chain challenges including Novelis’ recent announcement to build a 600 kilotonnes, new low-carbon aluminum rolling and recycling plant in Alabama as well as partnering up to lower the carbon footprint of the Ball Aluminum Cup™ by increasing the recycled content to 90% – the highest recycled content rate of any beverage packaging in its category.
Source: Company Press Release