Aluminium is 100 percent recyclable
We deliver around 1.4 million metric tonnes of aluminium products to customers every year. More than half of the metal had been used and recycled.
Hydro is now using more recycled metal, less water and waste
We are working to ensure that our operations are greener and Hydro is now using more recycled metal, less water and waste than evert before.
Our efforts to improve natural resource efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of our processes are enhancing the attractiveness of aluminium. This is a few of the things we do to shape a a more sustainable future.
Increase use of recycled aluminium
Since aluminium is 100 percent recyclable, we strive to use more recycled aluminium. This reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions by up to 95 percent, compared to primary aluminium. Currently, more than half of the aluminium used in Hydro's production is recycled.
This process starts early – we make sure that we develop products that are able to absorb more recycled aluminium. Also, we have an efficient system for recycling internal scrap from our production. Caustic soda also plays an important part – it is used to clean dies of aluminium following the extrusion process. The primary aluminium used in our production is purchased from a limited number of large suppliers, with whom we have long-term contracts.
Hydro focuses on the water used during the production processes of a site as a whole. Total water entering locations (water input) fell by 18 percent in 2015 compared with 2014. Water input per processed tonne also declined by 18 percent in 2015 compared with 2014.
Total energy consumption increased in 2015 by 0.9 percent over 2014 levels. This has primarily been an effect of increased use of natural gas, which is most likely linked to increased activity at casthouses and increased production levels within Hydro's gas-fired paint line operations. Energy consumption per processed tonne increased in 2015 by 1.1 percent over 2014 levels.