The 29th CRU world aluminium conference took place between 14th - 16th May, co-hosted by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).

The CRU conference has been well known for its market updates and outlooks as well as forecasts and economic analysis; this year we saw almost all presentations and panel sessions discus the sustainability agenda.

The shift in focus aligns with the aluminium industries actions, and reflects the efforts that the industry has made over the past year. It also highlights the commitment of the industry to ensuring a greener future.

"Our industry is positioned extremely well" - John Thuestad, Executive Vice President, Hydro Bauxite & Alumina

Women in aluminium

Prior to the conference auditorium presentations, a Women in Aluminium pre conference took place. Organised by Pernelle Nunez, Deputy Secretary General / Director – Sustainability, IAI, the session addressed diversity with women from across the industry, and world, coming together. The IAI stated that many aluminium companies have established informal networks to support underrepresented groups and that the Women in Aluminium initiative aims to build on these models by creating an open, sector-wide informal network for women in the global aluminium industry.

Later on in the year the ALUMINIUM Düsseldorf event welcomes the Women With Metal awards to the conference agenda.

The sustainability agenda

"Aluminium has a very good story to tell, and I think we need to tell this story" - Renato Bacchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Alcoa

Discussing the past and attempting to address the future are the given topics of industry conversation. This year the sustainability agenda has proven to be the third topic taking centre stage.

Most, if not all sessions mentioned the importance of turning green. Opening the conversation was a small panel of aluminium industry leaders who discussed what has been done, and what more needs to be done, to demonstrate aluminium’s advantages over other materials.

The panel discussed the changes that aluminium has seen over its years and highlighted it struggle as a relatively new material, in comparison with steel. One key point noted in the session was that the infrastructure that surrounds the steel industry has been in place around steel has seen many more years than that surrounding the aluminium industry. with this in mind, investing and developing the pre-existing infrastructure, in comparison to building from the ground up, is one of the many challenges that the aluminium faces. However, all panel members remained positive when reflecting on the position of aluminium today.

"Don't worry about the planet, it'll still be here. it is humanity that we should be concerned about" - Francesca Fairbairn, Shipping and Commodities Manager, Institute for Human Rights and Business

Legislation, policy and government relations

Marieke van der Mijn, Director of Partnerships, ASI chaired the session on ‘The nexus of legislation, corporate sustainability and supply chain due diligence’. the session asked question such as; what roles can and do sustainability systems play to support businesses with their due diligence, regulation is entering spaces previously left to voluntary initiatives, and what is the potential impact for businesses and how are they preparing.

But even when discussing the traditional business agenda, sustainability pops up. Jay Hambro, Chief Executive Officer, Verdigris Strategic Ltd discussed movement of aluminium, focusing on Europe. He highlighted the concern that the industry should have with regards to export figures of scrap aluminium. Scrap Aluminium is Exported all Over the World, only to be Repurchased at a Higher Cost: 2021 Net Aluminium Imports - 6.4 mt -> 2021 Scrap Aluminium (HS 7602) Exports - 15ml.

"A number of stake holders are needed for wider change, for GHG emissions to be reduced and for the sustainability agenda. A lot of these changes are not in the hands of the industry. the industry must work with the wider community to decarbonise efficiently" - Sandro Starita, Director Sustainability, European Aluminium

With much more discussed throughout the conference, Aluminium International Today will be publishing a full even review in the July/August issue.