Capral Aluminium announces the upcoming trials of EternAl-30 and EternAl-15 primary aluminium billets from Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) with 30% and 15% recycled content, respectively. This is a groundbreaking entry into the Australian aluminium market that promises to set new standards for carbon reductions and recycled content.
This initiative underscores Capral's commitment to sustainability and innovation, showcasing our dedication to delivering high-quality, environmentally responsible aluminium solutions to Australian manufacturers.
Alba's EternAl offer is a primary aluminium billet containing recycled content, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of primary aluminium production. Recycling aluminium requires up to 95% less energy than using raw materials, drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It also conserves natural resources, reduces waste, and supports a circular economy by keeping materials in use indefinitely. This sustainable approach minimises environmental impact and provides economic benefits, making aluminium recycling a crucial strategy in combating climate change and promoting industry sustainability.
Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali commented, "This groundbreaking low-carbon aluminium product marks a major milestone in our journey towards a sustainable future, not just for Alba, but across the entire supply chain. By utilising up to 30% recycled scrap metal, we're not only minimising our environmental footprint but also empowering our partners and customers like Capral to make a significant contribution to achieving their own sustainability goals. This innovation paves the way for a more sustainable future in the aluminium industry, one where every step of the supply chain can be part of the solution."
One of the great opportunities for aluminium is its ability to be infinitely recycled; up until now, Capral has not had the opportunity to reliably source primary aluminium billet, which includes recycled content.
Luke Hawkins, General Manager of Capral Industrial Division and Supply Chain, commented: "We launched our LocAl offer in 2023 in response to market demands for lower carbon aluminium options. This has been a great initiative, and we know it has driven change within the domestic aluminium market, but it's not enough. Australian manufacturers in a range of sectors are looking for locally produced aluminium extrusion containing recycled content, and we have been proactively working with our supply partners to reliably source aluminium billet, which would allow us to deliver this solution to the Australian market."
With trials set to take place this month, the Capral team is optimistic about its ability to deliver recycled content on its extruded products later this year.
"We're committed to rigorous trials to ensure the EternAl billet performs as we would expect on our extrusion press. We know this billet is of a very high quality and don't foresee any impact on structural properties, extrudability, or finish. Once our trials are complete in late July, it is our hope that we will be in a position to offer Australian manufacturers and builders an aluminium product that meets their performance expectations and supports their sustainability goals," Hawkins added.
Alba, one of the world's leading aluminium smelters, shares Capral's commitment to sustainability and innovation. It holds ASI Chain of Custody certification and adheres to strict environmental and safety standards. The aligned values of both businesses foster a strong partnership, enabling impactful operations and product innovations. Alba’s EternAl exemplifies their joint effort to transform sustainability commitments into action by integrating this offer into Capral's core product range.
Capral is Australasia’s only ASI certified extruder of aluminium. Capral has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3 and Chain of Custody (CoC) V2 for the extrusion, warehousing and distribution of aluminium products and services. The certifications apply to all of Capral's 29 facilities, which are composed of mills, distribution centres, and trade centres and are spread across every state and territory in Australia. These certifications recognise Capral's commitment to responsible production, sourcing, and management of aluminium products, positioning Capral and their supplier Alba among a select group of international aluminium producers and suppliers who have met the rigorous standards set by the ASI.
At Capral, sustainability is at the heart of every operation. Recognising the urgent need to address climate change, Capral is committed to making a positive impact through its operations and products. Alba’s EternAl exemplifies this commitment in action and will see Capral positioned to supply lower-carbon aluminium with recycled content to a diverse range of Australian manufacturing industries, including Marine, Defence, Transport, Construction, Signage and General Fabrication.
The upcoming trials of Alba’s EternAl are just the beginning. Capral is excited about the potential of this product to revolutionise the Australian aluminium market and set new benchmarks for sustainability. Moving forward, Capral will continue to explore innovative ways to reduce environmental impact and support customers in their sustainability journeys.
