EN+ emphasises the use of low-carbon aluminium for Japan’s Green Growth Strategy

En+ Group and its metals subsidiary, RUSAL has released new research today that emphasises the vital role of low carbon aluminium in Japan's Green Growth Strategy, laying the groundwork for the green energy transition and the further expansion of the circular economy.

Based on industry statistics, the study forecasts a 20 percent growth in demand for aluminium semis from Japanese firms between 2020 and 2025. While cast aluminium products in Japan are nearly 100 percent recyclable, primary aluminium will still be required to supply more than 50 percent of predicted demand. Because of the high energy intensity of aluminium manufacturing, raw materials imported into Japan can have dramatically varying embedded emissions depending on the power sources employed, according to the report. When compared to a worldwide average, primary aluminium generated using renewable energy can have an emissions intensity of less than 4 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of aluminium (tCO2 per tonne of aluminium) (Scope 1&2), compared to the global average of 12.6 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of aluminium, (Scope 1&2).

En+ Group researchers urge Japanese industry to form 'cradle to gate' collaborations that drive low-carbon aluminium goods while supporting research and development, design for sustainability and circularity, and low-carbon innovation investment. In addition, the study suggests that the government explore using foreign development assistance to boost low-carbon supply chains for Japanese enterprises, as well as expanding existing emission-linked import taxes to items that require a lot of coal or oil in the manufacturing process.

“Japanese manufacturers under pressure to reduce their climate impacts have the opportunity to source aluminium with significantly lower embedded emissions. At the same time, the simple act of requiring emissions disclosure against a common global framework will further enhance confidence in aluminium as the material of choice in a carbon constrained future,” said Steve Hodgson, the International Sales Director of RUSAL  in response to the study.