[Member News] Novelis’ Yeongju Plant Achieves 120 Billion Aluminum Cans Recycled Milestone in its First Decade
Writer Admin

Asia’s largest aluminum recycling center has annual capacity of 320,000 tons Seoul, June 20, 2021 - Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today announced that its Yeongju Recycling Center has processed 120 billion aluminum cans since opening in 2012. Located in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the Yeongju plant is the largest of its kind in Asia, with capacity to annually recycle 320,000 tons of aluminum.
 
Employing highly advanced recycling technologies, Novelis accepts used beverage cans at the facility and manufactures them into aluminum sheet used in new products. From placement in recycling bins to being restocked on store shelves, used aluminum cans are transformed into new ones, filled with consumers’ favorite beverages, in about 60 days.

  

In support of its commitment to sustainability, Novelis invested approximately KRW800 billion ($700 million U.S.) over the last 10 years in 15 recycling facilities in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. These plants collectively recycle 74 billion aluminum cans annually. By using recycled inputs to produce aluminum can sheet, Novelis reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent compared to making can sheet from primary aluminum.

 

“This is an exciting milestone that demonstrates our focus on sustainability and development of innovations that increase recycled content in our products,” said Sachin Satpute, President of Novelis Asia. “We continue to engage with our customers, suppliers and others across the value chain to enhance aluminum’s overall sustainability.”

  

Additional sustainability efforts include Novelis’ closed-loop systems to recycle aluminum scrap generated in automobile manufacturing. The company works with many of the world’s premier automotive brands and is scheduled to begin work on China’s first closed-loop automotive aluminum recycling facility in Zhenjiang in 2021.

 

The company also recently announced a new sustainability platform that commits the organization to reduce its carbon footprint 30 percent by 2026 and to transform into a net carbon-neutral company by 2050. Novelis’ plans include becoming a fully circular business across the enterprise and creating a more diverse, inclusive and safe workplace.