Decarbonisation push fuels Marubeni's growth in green aluminium sales

The Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation is ramping up efforts to expand its sales of low-carbon primary aluminium, commonly referred to as ‘green aluminium,’ in response to increasing global demand for sustainable raw materials. With the trend towards decarbonisation gaining momentum, driven by international measures to combat climate change, Marubeni has secured a growing number of green aluminium deals across various industries.

The surge in demand comes as companies seek to reduce their carbon footprints, and Marubeni has positioned itself as a key supplier of low-carbon aluminium. The corporation’s green aluminium is now being supplied to customers in many sectors, including transportation, where the pressure to decarbonise is particularly strong. By providing sustainable aluminium solutions, Marubeni is helping its clients meet their environmental goals and contribute to broader global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Marubeni supplies its green aluminium to various industries, including automotive, motorcycle, electronics, clothing, and building materials. Last month, the company announced a partnership with Rio Tinto, a leading UK-Australian resource company, to supply low-carbon aluminium to the Fujisash Group. As part of this collaboration, Marubeni, Rio Tinto, and Fujisash will work together to increase the use of low-carbon aluminium in their products while enhancing traceability and sustainability throughout the supply chain.

An official from Marubeni Corporation's Light Metal Department said, "The need to decarbonise materials is growing each year. It is becoming increasingly important for companies to provide information and appropriate certificates for not only carbon emissions but also various other types of information regarding the sustainability of their supply chains. We will aim to ensure that we can steadily continue to supply green aluminium to our Japanese customers."

Green aluminium is produced using renewable energy sources, like hydropower. Despite its environmental benefits, green aluminium output is far less than current global primary aluminium production. One of Marubeni's key challenges is ensuring a sufficient supply of green aluminium from reliable sources.

The Official further stated, “We have a stake in an aluminium smelter in Australia, and we would like to expand its use of renewable energy. Furthermore, we want to strengthen our ties with our partner Rio Tinto.”