Novelis Inc., the leading sustainable aluminium solutions provider and world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, announced that its Changzhou Plant in Jiangsu Province, China, has been awarded the Chain of Custody Standard Certification by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).

The plant achieved ASI’s Performance Standard Certification in May 2022 and is now fully ASI certified. The ASI Chain of Custody Standard complements the Performance Standard by certifying not only the production of responsible aluminium but also its sourcing and processing along the value chain. 

“With the continuous development of lightweighting technology and the ongoing pursuit of low-carbon sustainable development, we see great potential in China to expand the use of lightweight aluminium solutions in the automotive and aerospace industries,” said James Liu, Managing Director, Novelis China, and Vice President, Automotive, Novelis Asia. 

“Driven by our purpose of shaping a sustainable world together, we are committed to working with our partners across the value chain to introduce more cutting-edge technologies and low-carbon, sustainable aluminium solutions in China.”

Novelis has been prioritising reducing its carbon footprint and that of its customers. As such, Novelis has committed to be carbon-neutral by 2050 or sooner and to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2026. In addition, the company seeks to reduce waste to landfill by 20%, energy intensity by 10% and water intensity by 10% by 2026.

Novelis aims to achieve ASI certifications in all its plants worldwide. In addition to the dual certification at its Changzhou Plant, Novelis’ Zhenjiang Plant holds the ASI Performance Standard Certification and is pursuing Chain of Custody Certification. 

Besides China, Novelis has achieved both the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Certifications at all of its Korean and European manufacturing sites, as well as at its Pindamonhangaba facility and all of its 14 scrap collection centres in Brazil. 

In addition, three of the company’s plants in North America hold Performance Standard Certifications and are pursuing Chain of Custody certification.

Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said: “We congratulate Novelis China on achieving the first certification against the new ASI CoC Standard V2 at its Changzhou facility. 

“The success of the global automotive sector’s focus to expand electric mobility will be built upon strong upstream partners with the capacity to produce the growing volume of metal required. 

“With dual ASI certification in place, Novelis demonstrates its ongoing commitment to foster responsible production and stewardship of aluminium, and can support responsible aluminium sourcing by their downstream customers.” 

Inaugurated in 2014, the Novelis Changzhou plant, located in the heart of the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, Jiangsu Province, was China’s first plant dedicated to the production of the heat-treated aluminum automotive sheets. 

It supplies Novelis’ automotive customers in China and beyond with high-strength and lightweight aluminium sheet for use in full structural frames, as well as hoods, doors, fenders, and many other components.