Navigating the environmental footprint methodology for aluminium products with post-consumer scrap

Abstract

The Norwegian aluminium value chain aims to increase the use of post-consumer scrap (PCS) in product manufacturing to lower the product environmental footprints. Discussions with product manufacturers, shredding & sorting companies, and remelters were held to investigate the challenges and current implementation of the environmental footprint methods as these are an integral part of companies’ disclosure efforts on PCS use. The company’s position in the value chain impacts their interpretations of aluminium flow nomenclature and the associated environmental credits, and thus influences methodological choices. Furthermore, a method that better reflects the industrial realities and balances the different circularity goals is needed. The net-scrap approach (e.g. EN15804) was identified as it incentivises both recycled material usage and PCS recycling. Also, the end-of-waste concept, quality aspects, and temporal dimensions of using PCS were identified as challenges. This paper dives deeper into these topics and provides a direction for the aluminium manufacturing industry.