Novelis, a leading sustainable aluminium solutions provider and world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, announced the opening of the Ulsan Aluminum Recycling Center.

Novelis has invested $65 million in Ulsan Aluminum, a joint venture between Novelis and Kobe Steel to build the new recycling centre with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of low-carbon aluminium sheet ingot.

Novelis currently operates Asia’s largest aluminium beverage can recycling facility in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 

With the addition of the Ulsan centre, the company now has a domestic recycling capacity of approximately 470,000 tons per year. Fully funded by Novelis, the new centre is equipped to process a wide range of aluminium scrap – including those from cans, automotive, and industrial sources – enhancing Novelis’ overall recycling capabilities in the region.

Through this facility, Novelis expects to reduce carbon emissions by 420,000 tons annually. This reduction is equivalent to the annual CO₂ absorption of approximately 19 million trees, based on an average of 22 kilograms1 per tree. 

Recycling aluminium can save 95% of energy used and 95% of greenhouse gases emitted when producing aluminium from bauxite. In addition, aluminium is a fully circular material as it is infinitely recyclable without any loss in quality. 

“The Ulsan Aluminum Recycling Center is a strategic investment aimed at meeting growing customer demand for sustainable, low-carbon aluminium across beverage packaging, automotive, and specialty product sectors,” said Sachin Satpute, President, Novelis Asia. 

“We will continue to expand the use of recycled aluminium inputs to reduce our carbon footprint as well as those of our customers and our industry, accelerating the transition to a circular economy.”