NEW YORK, NY — Alcoa's primary aluminum has received Cradle-to-Cradle （C2C） certification thanks to the work the company has put into renewable energy, recycling, and water, emissions and waste reductions.
The primary aluminum, which is aluminum made from raw materials, was given silver C2C certification by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry （MBDC）, which awards C2C certification on four levels: basic, silver, gold and platinum.
Aluminum itself is an infinitely recyclable material, but C2C certification looks at more than just what products are made of. Over a number of years, Alcoa （NTSE: AA） has made various improvements to its operations, cutting emissions by 44 percent since 1990, reducing process water use by 29 percent since 2000 and reducing the amount of waste it sends to landfill by 70 percent since 2000.
"We have made significant improvements in the production of primary aluminum over time and the Cradle-to-Cradle certification is a recognition of that," said Michael Belwood, Alcoa's media relations director. "Primary aluminum is fundamental to our business and we though this would be an important recognition of its recyclability and its sustainability."
In addition, about 63 percent of Alcoa's smelting operations around the world get their energy from hydroelectric power and some of its offices are topped with solar panels.
In recent years Alcoa increased the capacity at its aluminum can recycling plant in Tennessee by 50 percent and has set a goal to help increase the United States' aluminum beverage can recycling rate from its current level of 57 percent to 75 percent by 2015.
To reach that goal, the company has, aside from increasing its own ability to recycle more cans, supported and sponsored recycling bin distribution and promotion for recycling programs.
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