Issues: Energy, Climate Change, Well-being, Community Development
Stakeholders: Employees, Communities, NGOs, Government
Region: Global
The replacement of an exhaust air cleaning system for two cold mills at ALUNORF (50% owned by Novelis), the world's largest aluminum rolling mill, resulted in a 25% reduction in rolling oil emissions and a 30% reduction of both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Further benefits include a 5% increase in the recovery of rolling oil, a reduction in noise and reduction of droplets of oil in the neighbourhood.
Aside from the environmental and economic benefits, the new air cleaning system provides an improved working environment for employees. Other examples of Continuous Improvement efforts in 2003 include initiatives at the Bridgnorth (UK) foil and packaging facility to reduce waste in inks. Project results show clear financial savings and significantly reduced safety and environmental risks.
Ink usage (defined by ink applied to saleable product as a percentage of the ink purchased) also improved, reducing waste by over 30%. In a typical month, Bridgnorth uses 23 tonnes of solvent-based ink; with the new procedures in place, the volume of solvent-based inks required to produce equal annual volumes will be reduced by over 20 tonnes.
