Hydro Extruded Solutions Hoogezand B.V. in the Netherlands has become the first aluminum extrusion company to be certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI’s) Performance Standard for environmental, social, and governance performance. The facility has 155 employees and produces aluminum profiles as well as anodized and painted components for a wide range of sectors, including electronics, automotive, mass transit, bridge decking, telecommunications, renewable energy industries, and more. The independent, third-party audit of Hydro Hoogezand was carried out by GUTcert (AFNOR Group).
“We always strive to be frontrunners in our industry,” said Svein Richard Brandtzæg, Hydro’s president and CEO. “As our customers need to reach their own sustainability targets and meet the demand from more climate-conscious end-consumers, we believe the market will increasingly demand the most responsible aluminum.”
The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminum value chain. “ASI is delighted to congratulate Hydro Extruded Solutions on their successful ASI Certification of the Hoogezand operations,” said Fiona Solomon, chief executive officer at ASI. “Aluminum extrusions are one of the metal’s most versatile applications, finding use in an incredible variety of bespoke applications in both consumer and industrial markets. This first ASI Certification for an extrusion company is thus an important milestone, and builds on the Hoogezand team’s strong customer relationships and commitment to responsible production.”
Hydro is currently in the process of certifying a total of 15 plants, with the ambition to offer fully ASI certified aluminum in 2019. In addition, Hydro launched two sustainable aluminum alloys in 2017 — the certified low-carbon products 4.0 and 75R. Hydro 4.0 guarantees a maximum carbon footprint of 4.0 CO2 per kg aluminum during its entire life cycle, while Hydro 75R contains a traceable percentage of minimum 75% post-consumer recycled content. The company is currently increasing the production of 75R at its plant in Azuqueca, Spain, as well as expanding remelt operations at its Slovalco aluminum plant in Slovakia for it to serve as a remelter for conversion scrap from extrusion plants in Central Europe.
Brandtzæg stated, “Seen in combination with our carbon footprint being amongst the lowest of any aluminum company in the world, the ASI Certification process further strengthens our dedication to sustainability and responsibility, all the way from bauxite extraction to production of advanced aluminum products and solutions.”