Reducing CO₂ through recycling and cleaner energy
The initiative includes using more post-consumer scrap and switching to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and electrical boilers, at Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. The long-term goal is to develop foundry alloy aluminium with a carbon footprint of less than 3.0 kg CO₂ per kilogram.
“Expectations from society and customers towards business and industry to drive change are rising rapidly. Our strengthened collaboration with Nemak means we will develop more circular products and work towards pushing carbon footprint reduction to the limit. This can make a difference for automotive companies looking to decarbonize their supply chains and meet ambitious sustainability goals,” says Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President for Hydro Aluminium Metal.
Hydro already supplies Nemak with Hydro REDUXA primary foundry alloy (PFA), which has a carbon footprint below 4.0 kg CO₂/kg aluminium. This is 25% of the global average, and the new LOI targets an additional 25% reduction.
Long-standing partnership and R&D cooperation
The companies have collaborated for more than two decades. The LOI aims to expand the use of post-consumer scrap in casting alloys and includes a joint effort in research and development to create the next generation of automotive alloys. Hydro and Nemak both aim to produce net-zero products by 2050 or earlier.
Polish recycling company Alumetal, fully owned by Hydro since 2023, is also supplying foundry alloy products to Nemak.
