Major global aluminum processor Novelis, recycled 120bn aluminum cans hitting a record at its Yeongju plant located in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
The Asian-based recycler noted it reached this milestone within the first ten years of operations from its recycling center that began in 2012. The plant is the country’s largest aluminum recycler holding 320,000mt in yearly capacity. Novelis devoted around KRW800bn ($703mn) within the past 10 years across 15 recycling sites in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, with a combined output of 74bn aluminum cans recycled every year.
Recycled intake is used to make aluminum can sheet so the company can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 95pc compared to sheet production by using primary aluminum.The company receives used beverage cans (UBC) at the site and makes them into aluminum sheet for new products. UBC’s are then processed into new cans in roughly 60 days. The aluminum roller’s other endeavors include a closed-loop recycling system for scrap produced during auto manufacturing. The company is slated to commence work on China’s first closed-loop auto aluminum recycling plant in 2022 in Zhenjiang.
Novelis also has a new program to cut its carbon footprint 30pc by 2026 and to become net carbon-neutral by 2050.
($1 = KRW1,138.56)