Unlocking the sustainable development password of aluminum industry: ASI certification, not just a low-carbon value revolution

When the global aluminum industry's annual emissions exceed 1.1 billion tons, accounting for 2% of total anthropogenic emissions, the alarm bell rings, a global standard called ASI (Aluminum Industry Management Initiative) is reshaping the industry landscape. As the first and only international sustainability standard in the aluminum value chain, ASI takes "responsible production, procurement, and governance" as its core. As of May 2025, it has gathered 389 member companies to build an ESG governance system covering the entire industry chain, from bauxite mining to terminal applications.

01ASI certification: the "passport" for sustainable development in the aluminum industry

The ASI certification system consists of two pillars: Performance Standards (PS) and Chain of Custody Standards (CoC). The former focuses on the three dimensions of environment, society, and governance, including 11 principles and 62 guidelines, among which greenhouse gas emissions (guidelines 5.1-5.4) are listed as a priority issue; The latter achieves full chain traceability from mining to products through a quality balance model, making every ton of ASI aluminum traceable and verifiable.

For manufacturing enterprises, ASI certification is not a multiple-choice question but a mandatory answer: members of the production and conversion processing category must obtain performance standard certification within two years of joining. This means that companies must publicly disclose their annual greenhouse gas emissions data and have it verified by a third party. Newly launched aluminum plants must meet the requirement of emitting ≤ 11t CO ₂ e per ton of aluminum, while existing plants need to develop a clear emission reduction roadmap - to reduce emissions to below 13t by the end of 2025 and further tighten to below 11t by 2030.

02 Have you been hit by the 'high-frequency minefield' in the carbon audit?

According to the 2024 ASI performance standard audit in China, the greenhouse gas related criteria (5.1) ranked first with 15 minor non conformities. Common issues include:

Insufficient data credibility: Relying on industry default emission factors and not prioritizing the use of on-site measured data from suppliers

Chaotic management of aluminum waste: Confusing pre consumption and post consumption waste, mistakenly counting the former's carbon footprint as zero

Scope 3 accounting deficiency: Neglecting substantial emissions such as aluminum raw material transportation (accounting for more than 10%)

Improper accounting of electricity emissions: Failure to use the latest provincial grid factors, lack of physical connection proof for green power procurement

What is even more alarming is the risk of "greenwashing": claiming low-carbon solely based on energy types, embellishing data with industry best emission factors, and blurring concepts such as "low-carbon" and "green" may all damage a company's ESG reputation.

03 Breakthrough Path: From Compliance to Excellence

Regarding the improvement of carbon management in aluminum enterprises, it is recommended to focus on three aspects:

1. Establish a solid data foundation: Establish a carbon management database, equip a professional team, prioritize the collection of primary data from upstream suppliers, and ensure full coverage of emissions in scope one, two, and three. According to GB/T 44905-2024 "Quantitative Method for Carbon Footprint of Electrolytic Aluminum", the national standard implemented from May 2025 has clearly required the full process emissions from bauxite to ingots.

2. Activate circular value: Distinguish between pre consumption (process waste) and post consumption (scrapped products) waste, and optimize the recycling strategy based on data from the International Aluminum Association (China's post consumption waste accounts for 40%). The practice of companies such as Novelis has shown that closed-loop recycling systems can increase the regeneration rate of aluminum cans to over 90%.

3. Anchoring scientific emission reduction: Adopting the ASI approved 1.5 ℃ temperature control scenario methodology, establish a five-year mid-term target. For example, self owned thermal power aluminum plants can transform through direct green power supply. The proportion of clean energy in China Aluminum Industry has reached 25%, and the target for 2027 is to increase to 30%.

04 Joining ASI: Not only certification, but also value reconstruction

From the responsible procurement requirements of downstream users such as BMW and IKEA, to the compliance pressure of the EU carbon border tax, ASI certification has become the "door opener" for aluminum companies to enter the high-end supply chain. Data shows that the electrolytic aluminum emission intensity of ASI certified enterprises (5.55t CO ₂ e/t Al) is only half of the industry average, taking the lead in the era of green premium.

Currently, 87 Chinese companies have joined the ASI camp, from China Hongqiao to Nanshan Aluminum, writing a new narrative of sustainable development in the aluminum industry through practice. As stated in ASI's vision, maximizing the value of aluminum in a responsible chain is not only a standard requirement, but also a necessary path for the industry to break through and transition to low-carbon.

Do you want to know more details about ASI certification? Can access the official website https://www.aluminium-stewardship.org Or contact ASCP for more information.

ASCP is an ASI accredited auditing company that certifies its members according to ASI standards, working together to promote responsible aluminum production, procurement, and management.