Hydro says Circal’s carbon footprint is shrinking

Norway-based Norsk Hydro ASA says it can now ship its Hydro Circal branded recycled-content aluminum with a documented carbon footprint of 1.9 kilograms, or less than 4.2 pounds, of CO₂-equivalent per kg of aluminum.

That figure is down from a previous calculation of 2.3 kg of CO₂e per kg of Circal aluminum. The reduced carbon footprint has been achieved “through advances in sourcing, sorting and traceability of postconsumer aluminum scrap,” according to the company, which now produces and sells Circal in the United States.

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Circal was launched in 2019 and Hydro calls it a prime quality, recycled aluminum made with a minimum of 75 percent recycled postconsumer scrap, certified by an independent third party.

The company currently produces Circal at its plants in Clervaux, Luxembourg; Azuqueca, Spain;  Wrexham, United Kingdom; and at three sites in the U.S.

“Hydro has been pushing the boundaries for low-carbon aluminum with Hydro Circal,” says Ingrid Guddal, head of recycling in the Hydro Aluminum Metal business unit.

“We are very proud to deliver a brand with a market-leading footprint across the value chain from scrap to final product. In a fairly short time, Hydro Circal has become a key part of our product portfolio. With the new environmental product declaration (EPD), we continue to deliver aluminum with a carbon footprint that will enable our most forward-leaning and demanding customers to deliver on their climate targets.”

The metals producer says it "constantly is pushing the boundaries of low-carbon aluminum" by pursuing initiatives to decarbonize the company’s processes through increased use of cleaner energy or new technology development.

“In early 2023, we also delivered the first near-zero carbon footprint aluminum for the European building and construction market based on Hydro Circal, with 100 percent-postconsumer-scrap content," Guddal says.

The company has an extensive recycling network, with a total of 30 recycling facilities in Europe, North America and Brazil that consume aluminum scrap. “Growth in recycling is a central part of Hydro’s strategy, and the company is stepping up its growth ambitions to meet the increasing demand for low-carbon, recycled products," Hydro says.

The company intends to maintain a focus on increased use of postconsumer scrap, with an aim “to further diversify the portfolio of cast house products, in collaboration with customers, to unlock the potential for increased use of recycled materials for a more circular economy.”