ESG

Environment

Climate change is today one of society’s chief concerns. The aluminium industry is carbon- and energy-intensive, accounting for 1% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consuming 5% of global energy output in the production of primary aluminium.

However, new technologies and countries’ decarbonization efforts are driving competition toward a sustainable economy and creating significant challenges and opportunities for our market. Aluminium can play a big role in this transition: our lightweight, versatile, durable and infinitely recyclable products are essential enablers of a low-carbon future.

Greenhouse gas emissions management

CBA is one of the largest producers of low-GHG aluminium in the world * . Yet we are constantly working to further cut GHG emissions from our operations as part of our efforts against climate change. Learn below about our progress in this direction:

This program is active in the following SDGs

(Sustainable Development Goals)

Transmission intensity in the electrolysis process / tons of CO and tons of liquid aluminum (2023)

*According to CRU data, our smelter GHG emissions are in the first—and lowest—quartile on a global basis.

** The indicator is calculated based on Scope 1 and 2 emissions at the electrolysis stage.

Gold level reporting status in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program

This certification attests to the transparency and traceability of our GHG emissions disclosures. Gold level reporting status is awarded for inventories that comprehensively report direct (Scope 1) and energy-indirect (Scope 2) emissions and are independently assured to ensure the data they report is accurate. CBA’s GHG emissions inventories, filed with the Brazilian Public Emissions Register, have received Gold status since 2017.

CDP

CBA has responded to the CDP’s climate change disclosures questionnaire since 2020, with our first-time disclosures receiving a leadership-level score of A-. The CDP is a leading, internationally recognized framework for disclosures on sustainability and climate change.

Science Based Targets

CBA has committed to the Science Based Targets, a joint initiative of the Global Compact, CDP, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to enable companies to set and meet targets that can effectively contribute to limiting global temperature rise.

Acordo Ambiental de São Paulo

We are among the São Paulo-based companies and associations that have voluntarily committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and regularly participate in meetings of the Environmental Chamber for Climate Change.

Our 2030 Goal

Reduce emissions by 40% (on average for cast products, cradle-to-gate, from a 2019 baseline).

What we're doing

Smelter Upgrade

This project is upgrading the smelting pot feed process at our smelters, where aluminium oxide is converted into molten aluminium. The new feed system is automated and intermittent. Among the key benefits from the new technology is reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and greater process efficiency and safety.