Novelis Inc. has expanded its operations with a new $50 million recycling center in Korea to fulfill the growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon aluminum sheet for can, automotive and high-end specialty products, according to a press release. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2024.
"As the world leader in sustainable, low-carbon rolled aluminum solutions, we are focused on accelerating the transition of the aluminum industry to a circular economy model through the increased use of recycled content in our products," said Sachin Satpute, president of Novelis Asia. "Doing so will reduce our carbon footprint – as well as that of our customers and industry as a whole – and lead us closer to realizing our 2050 goal for carbon neutrality."
Built by Novelis' joint venture with Kobe Steel, Ulsan Aluminum, the new center is estimated to have an annual casting capacity of 100 kilotonnes of low-carbon sheet ingot. The new establishment is projected to help reduce carbon emissions by more than 420,000 tons each year.
The addition was celebrated at an opening ceremony, which welcomes Doo-Gyeom Kim, Ulsan Metropolitan City mayor, Yeon-Chul Lee, chairman, Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Nolan Barkhouse, principal officer of the U.S. Consulate in Busan.
The new center joins Novelis’ largest existing aluminum recycling center, located in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. It will increase Novelis’ overall recycling company by more than 20%.
Novelis helps recycle an average of 82 billion used beverage cans a year, and processes more than 18 billion of them.
“Using recycled aluminum as an input material saves 95% of the energy used to produce primary aluminum from bauxite, thus reducing the carbon emissions by 95%,” a recent press release explains. “In addition, aluminum is infinitely recyclable, making it increasingly important as a sustainable material choice. For example, aluminum beverage cans are one of the most sustainable packaging as used cans are able to be recycled and made into new cans and back on store shelves in just 60 days.”