The aluminum company Alcoa Corp., Cleveland, has unveiled Sustana, its newest aluminum product, at the Aluminum 2016 trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany. The new product line is manufactured with low carbon emissions and recycled content. Alcoa says the new product is well-positioned to meet customer demand for sustainable aluminum products.
The Sustana product has been designed to help companies reduce the carbon intensity of their supply chain and achieve their sustainability goals.
According to Alcoa, the Sustana family includes two key products:
Ecolum – This is a primary aluminum produced with energy from hydro-powered aluminum smelters, each with a production ratio of less than 2.5 metric tons of carbon per metric tons of aluminum. The product also has a low carbon impact, estimated at 75 percent better than the industry average. Alcoa says it provides certificates of origin that enable customers to verify the sustainability benefits when reporting on their own operations.
Ecodura – This is an aluminum billet made from recycled content, ideal for customers seeking low-carbon materials for their products. It is available in a variety of alloys and sizes and is made with at least 50 percent recycled content and uses up to 95 percent less energy to manufacture when compared with products with no recycled content. The Ecodura also contributes to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certifications for sustainable building projects.
“Companies across a range of end markets have made sustainability a core business imperative and, as a result, they’ve prioritized the use of low-carbon aluminum products with proper certifications,” says Timothy Reyes, president of Alcoa Cast Products. “By introducing these eco-friendly Sustana products, which offer significant sustainability benefits when compared to the industry average, Alcoa is underscoring its commitment to helping customers reduce their environmental footprint.
“This global product launch also builds on our own long-standing commitment to sustainability, which includes several noteworthy reductions in our own carbon footprint,” Reyes continues.