Capral introduces LocAl lower carbon aluminium for Australian manufacturers
Capral introduces LocAl®, a lower-carbon primary aluminium option available across Capral’s locally manufactured extruded aluminium products. Providing Australian manufacturers access to cleaner, greener, more sustainable aluminium for their projects.
The LocAl offer includes two lower carbon aluminium options: LocAl Green with carbon emissions of 8kg CO2e/kg Al* and LocAl Super Green at 4kg CO2e/kg Al* – amongst the lowest carbon aluminium available globally.
In 2022, Capral committed to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050, a significant step change, driving rapid innovation and cultural evolution throughout the business, most notably within procurement and operations. The introduction of LocAl demonstrates a deliberate shift in Capral’s procurement strategy for primary aluminium billet.
Luke Hawkins, General Manager of Supply & Industrial Solutions, said this is a strategic change for Capral, “driven by our desire to make lower Carbon aluminium accessible to Australian manufacturers. The market is looking for this product, and as Australia’s largest extruder of aluminium, we must make it available. In 2022, 22% of the primary aluminium billet Capral uses in its eight local extrusion presses had a carbon content lower than eight kilograms CO2e per kilogram of aluminium. Approximately 300 tonnes have a certified carbon content lower than 4kgs of CO2e per kilogram of aluminium.”
Aluminium is often called the “sustainable metal”, its versatility and recyclability earning it this reputation. But there are significant variations in the carbon emissions generated by smelters during the production of primary aluminium. One could say some aluminium is considerably more sustainable than others.
The main contribution to the carbon emissions of aluminium comes from the electrolysis process used in aluminium smelting. Around 60% of the aluminium sector’s GHG emissions are from the production of electricity consumed during the aluminium smelting process.
A salient fact that may surprise some is that combined, the four Aluminium Smelters producing primary aluminium within Australia consume approximately 10% of the national energy grid.
The carbon emissions in primary aluminium production range from under 4kg CO2e/kg Al to over 20kg CO2e/kg Al, largely dependent upon the energy sources used. The current global average carbon emission for primary aluminium is approximately 16.8 kg CO2e/kg Al.*
“At eight kilograms of carbon emissions per kilogram of aluminium, the LocAl Green offer has 50% lower carbon emissions than the current global average for primary aluminium,” says O’Keefe. At four kilograms, LocAl Super Green is 75% lower; this is a significant reduction. It gives Australian manufacturers an important opportunity to make more responsible procurement decisions when they source extruded aluminium.”
In addition to lower carbon emissions, the primary aluminium offered under the Local brand is sourced exclusively from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certified smelters.
Capral joined ASI in July 2022, a global non-profit organisation that brings together producers, users and stakeholders in the aluminium value chain. ASI members are committed to the responsible procurement and sustainable production of aluminium. This globally recognised organisation has become the cornerstone of sustainable aluminium procurement for the world’s leading aluminium organisations delivering robust standards and transparency.
“Being able to offer LocAl aluminium sourced from ASI-certified smelters gives us the added assurance that the aluminium we buy has been produced responsibly with consideration given to sustainability and societal impact. It helps us stand behind the product we sell and tell our customers we’ve done the best we can to deliver you a product that has been produced responsibly at all stages in the value chain,” says Hawkins.
Industry sectors, including construction, renewable energy, transport and marine, are increasingly looking for lower carbon options for their products to meet customer expectations. Capral is now ready to support these sectors with access to aluminium with up to 75% lower carbon emissions than global averages.
“There are many reasons businesses would consider using LocAl for their projects,” added O’Keefe. “Reducing carbon emissions is critical for our environment, and Capral is proud to be in a position to deliver the LocAl Green and Super Green to the industry right now so that businesses can actively choose cleaner, greener options for their aluminium.”
LocAl aluminium is available across Capral’s locally manufactured. extruded aluminium products including custom-designed aluminium sections, standard extrusions, geometrics, transport sections, solar rail, and marine. LocAl Green will be supplied as standard on all Capral proprietary window and door systems from November 2022.
Capral is ambitious about offering LocAl to Australian manufacturers and hopeful that the demand for lower-carbon aluminium will continue to grow.