Earth Day is a time to reflect on our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the planet. At Novelis, we are committed to driving sustainable practices and reducing our environmental impact, and this year’s theme—Our Power, Our Planet—resonates with our ongoing work toward renewable and clean energy solutions. As a global leader in aluminum recycling and rolling, we know that transitioning to renewable energy sources and embracing circularity are essential for a more sustainable future.

Aluminium International Today featured an exclusive byline by Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Vice President of Sustainability at Novelis, highlighting the company’s strategic investments in recycling and rolling capacity to drive a more sustainable future. 

In her article, “Investing in a Sustainable Future: Novelis Increases Capacity and Looks to Maximize Recycled Content.” Suzanne outlines Novelis’ latest efforts to expand its recycling capabilities and increase the percentage of recycled content in its products, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. 

With major projects in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, Novelis is strengthening its position as a leader in low-carbon aluminum solutions. The article highlights key advancements, including: 

Read the full article in Aluminum International Today’s March/April issue. Aluminium International Today

Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Vice President of Sustainability at Novelis, recently joined The Green Room, a podcast by edie, to discuss the evolving role of sustainability in business strategy.  

In the podcast, Suzanne discusses how the company is bringing Novelis 3×30—our company’s vision to advance aluminum as the material of choice with circular solutions—into action. She highlights the critical role of aluminum in a low-carbon future and how Novelis is making first-mover investments in new technologies to drive sustainability and business growth. 

Listen to the full episode to hear Suzanne’s perspective on the future of sustainability, what motivates her work, and how Novelis is leading the way toward a low-carbon, circular economy for aluminum. 

In edie’s Green Room with Novelis’s VP of sustainability, Suzanne Lindsay-Walker – YouTube 

Hosted by edie editor Matt Mace, The Green Room features leading voices in corporate sustainability, uncovering key lessons, industry trends, and the personal motivations of sustainability leaders. 

Novelis is proud to be featured in a recent World Economic Forum article highlighting the impact of the First Movers Coalition (FMC), which has mobilized over $16 billion to accelerate the adoption of emerging decarbonization technologies in hard-to-abate industries. The FMC aims to drive demand for low-carbon solutions in sectors such as aluminum, aviation, and shipping—sectors that are critical to achieving a net-zero future but face significant technological and economic challenges. 

Novelis, in collaboration with Ball Corporation and Alcoa, has played a key role in developing an innovative aluminum cup made with 90% recycled aluminum and 10% ELYSIS-produced aluminum, manufactured using carbon-free smelting technology. This initiative, featured in the article, exemplifies how strategic partnerships and technological advancements can lead to more sustainable solutions and further advance aluminum’s role in the circular economy. 

As an initial signatory and committed FMC member, Novelis plays a crucial role in supporting the coalition’s mission to accelerate the transition to clean energy solutions and reduce emissions from aluminum production. The FMC, launched during the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in October 2021, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the U.S. Department of State, brings together leading global companies to leverage their collective purchasing power and supply chains to create early markets for innovative technologies that will be essential in reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Novelis has pledged that by 2030, 10% of its primary aluminum purchases will be near-zero carbon, emitting less than 3 tonnes of CO₂ per ton. Additionally, the company has committed to ensuring that at least 50% of all aluminum used comes from recycled sources. Novelis has already exceeded this goal, achieving a 63% average recycled content rate in its products as of fiscal year 2024, further solidifying its leadership in sustainable aluminum production. 

Novelis’ participation in the FMC aligns closely with our ambitious Novelis 3×30 goals, which aim to increase recycled content to 75%, reduce emissions to less than 3 tonnes of CO2e per tonne of flat-rolled product (FRP) shipped and lead the industry with first-mover investments to drive circularity by 2030. 

Through our involvement in FMC, Novelis continues to lead the way in delivering low-carbon aluminum solutions that support the global transition to a net-zero economy. By investing in innovative recycling technologies, expanding closed-loop systems, and forming strategic partnerships, Novelis remains at the forefront of the industry’s sustainability transformation. 

Read the full article here: Over $16bn: First Movers Coalition sends world’s largest demand signal for emerging decarbonization technologies | World Economic Forum 

Novelis was recently featured in a segment on the Viewpoint series, spotlighting aluminum’s powerful role in creating a more sustainable world. Airing on public television stations across the U.S., the feature showcases the transformative impact of aluminum recycling and the critical part Novelis plays in advancing sustainability and circularity in the industry.

Watch the full feature here to learn more about how Novelis is fulfilling its Purpose of Shaping a Sustainable World Together. Novelis Viewpoint Television on Vimeo

And read on to learn more about what makes aluminum so impressive.

Aluminum is Infinitely Recyclable

Aluminum can be recycled endlessly without losing its properties or quality*. This capability allows it to remain in use indefinitely, reducing the need for virgin material extraction and minimizing waste. By keeping aluminum in circulation, we support a truly circular economy that prioritizes resource efficiency.

Recyling Aluminum Saves Energy and Reduces Carbon Emissions

Recycling aluminum uses 95% less energy than producing primary aluminum, translating into a drastic reduction in overall energy consumption and carbon emissions. This unparalleled energy efficiency makes aluminum an indispensable component in sustainable manufacturing, contributing to a lower-carbon future.

Novelis: Leading the Way in Shaping a Sustainable World Together

As the world’s largest recycler of aluminum, Novelis exemplifies industry leadership through innovation and collaboration. Our approach extends beyond simply recycling—we integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations to drive lasting impact:

Setting New Standards in Recycling

In FY24, Novelis recycled 2.3 million metric tons of aluminum, resulting in products that average 63% recycled content. This achievement places us at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing, and we are committed to furthering this progress. Under Novelis 3×30, our new company-wide vision, we aim to achieve 75% recycled content in our products by 2030.

Pioneering Innovative Solutions

Our work goes beyond recycling aluminum. Novelis collaborates with customers to develop advanced low-carbon, high –recycled-content aluminum alloys designed to promote circularity and minimize environmental impact.

Empowering Circularity Through Collaboration

We actively partner with customers, suppliers, associations, universities, governments and other stakeholders to enhance recycling infrastructure and champion policies that advance circular economies worldwide. Through these collaborations, we are helping to create an industry where sustainability is a shared priority and driving real change is possible.

* Some melt loss occurs during the remelt process, which we currently estimate to be roughly 1%, though it can vary due to a variety of factors.

Novelis is taking significant strides in advancing sustainability, as highlighted in a recent article featuring Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Vice President for Sustainability, published by Fastmarkets. The article delves into Novelis’ release of its FY2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing a 27% reduction in absolute carbon emissions since 2016 across scopes 1, 2, and 3. With an average recycled content of 63% in its aluminum rolled products, Novelis recycled over 2.3 million tonnes of aluminum, including 82 billion used beverage cans.

As part of the Novelis 3×30 vision, the company aims to reach 75% recycled content by 2030. Achieving this goal involves strategic partnerships to return more scrap into the system, decrease primary metal usage, and increase the utilization of end-of-life scrap, particularly from automotive sources.

Lindsay-Walker highlighted Novelis’ focus on scrap separation technology, policy advancements, and collaboration with customers to achieve circularity and decarbonization.

Read more about our sustainability journey and the future of Novelis 3×30.

Sustainability is at the core of Novelis’ business model, and our commitment to circularity is stronger than ever. In a new blog post, Novelis 3×30: Shaping a Circular Future, Pierre Labat, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, shares our new company-wide vision for advancing aluminum as the material of choice for circular solutions. 

The Novelis 3×30 initiative focuses on three ambitious objectives to be achieved by the end of 2030: 

Read the full blog by Pierre Labat to discover how Novelis 3×30 will position us at the forefront of circularity and ensure we continue Shaping a Sustainable World Together. 

Read the Blog

From its lightweight nature to its ability to be recycled over and over again, aluminum is a sustainability star and a critical component of the circular economy.  

Here are the top 5 reasons why it’s a material of choice:  

1. 75% of All Aluminum Ever Produced is Still in Use Today 

One of the most impressive facts about aluminum is its durability and reusability. Approximately 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in active use today. This is thanks to its ability to be recycled over and over without losing its quality or structural integrity. From beverage cans to vehicles and buildings, aluminum’s longevity ensures that it remains circulating in the economy rather than sitting in landfills or ending up as litter. 

2. Aluminum Recycling Saves 95% of the Energy Required for Primary Production 

Recycling aluminum uses just 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminum from raw materials. This substantial energy savings makes aluminum one of the most energy-efficient materials to recycle. At Novelis, we leverage this attribute in our operations by maximizing the use of recycled content. 

3. Recycling Aluminum Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In addition to saving energy, recycling aluminum can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 95% compared to primary aluminum production. This dramatic reduction is essential as industries seek to lower their carbon footprint. At Novelis, we prioritize recycling as a way to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. 

4. Aluminum Cans are the Most Recycled Beverage Container 

Aluminum cans are the most recycled beverage container in the world, with an impressive global recycling rate of approximately 69%. The circular nature of aluminum allows beverage cans to be recycled and back on store shelves in as little as 60 days … that aluminum is a key driver of the circular economy, reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption. 

5. Aluminum is Infinitely Recyclable 

Perhaps the most remarkable characteristic of aluminum is that it is infinitely recyclable* without any loss of quality. Unlike many materials that degrade during the recycling process, aluminum retains all of its original properties no matter how many times it is recycled. This infinite recyclability ensures that aluminum can continue to play a vital role in the transition to a more circular economy and a sustainable future. 

As we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible with recycled aluminum, these five attributes reinforce our commitment to building a more sustainable, circular world through the power of aluminum. 

^* Some melt loss occurs during the remelt process, which we currently estimate to be roughly 1%, though it can vary due to a variety of factors.