Hitachi takes a pledge to use only “green aluminium” for its Japan-made products

Hitachi has pledged to make all its products in Japan from “green aluminium” produced through less carbon-intensive processes than conventional methods. To achieve this goal, the company has set a deadline of March 2024.

Hitachi, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo.  The company specialises in a diverse range of products, including digital systems, power and renewable energy solutions, railway systems, healthcare products, and financial systems.

The Japanese industrial giant uses approximately 10,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically to make refrigerators, washing machines, railroad cars, and so on. To achieve the net-zero carbon emissions goal across the entire supply chain by 2050, Hitachi has aimed to reduce carbon footprint by using low-carbon aluminium.

Secondary aluminium production is prominent in Japan, recording a growing trend over the years. According to the Japan Aluminium Association, the East Asian country produced 471.4 thousand tonnes of secondary aluminium from January to August 2023, up by 1.5 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the association data, Japan’s domestic aluminium demand for industrial machinery stood at 56.8 thousand tonnes in the first eight months 2023. For electrical conductor and electrical appliance & communication machinery, aluminium demand during January-August 2023 was recorded at 12.2 thousand tonnes and 65.4 thousand tonnes, respectively.