The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) aims to see sustainability and human rights principles increasingly embedded in supply chains. Its Performance Standard recognizes the responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium.

The Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard sets out requirements for the creation of a chain of custody for CoC material, including ASI Aluminium, which is produced and processed through the value chain into the downstream sectors. It means not only that the sites and their practices are certified, but that the physical metal they process also is certified, when obtained from ASI-certified sources.

Each of the Hydro plants – one in Austria, three in Germany – received their Performance Standard certification last year, covering their respective aluminium extrusion and manufacturing operations. The Nenzing plant in Austria and the Offenburg plant in Germany also earned CoC certification in 2020.

They have been joined by the Rackwitz and Uphusen plants in Germany, which achieved CoC certification this past month.

“This is a key part of our sustainability agenda and in our strategy to help customers document that they offer aluminium products that are sourced and produced responsibly throughout the value chain,” says Sacha Brandt, vice president responsible for the DACH region in Hydro’s Extrusion Europe organization.

“With this certification, we want to initiate a ‘green chain reaction’ by motivating our suppliers, co-workers and customers to work with us on a more sustainable basis for our future generations.”

Hydro’s extrusion plants in the DACH region, which serve customers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, manufacture and market extruded aluminium profiles, and offers surface treatment and added-value operations to transform the profiles into the solutions that meet customer specifications in the transportation, automotive, general engineering, and building and construction industries.

In total, Hydro employs around 1,100 people at the four sites.

Differentiating with sustainability

The latest achievements reinforce the work that Hydro is carrying out to benefit its sustainability-seeking customers. Just last month, the company announced that all 42 of its aluminium extrusion operations in Europe were certified according to the ASI Performance Standard.

“Achieving Chain of Custody Standard certification is impressive, and I am very proud of the work by our employees at these sites. It underlines the fact that doing business the right way is what our company is about,” says executive vice president Paul Warton, who leads Hydro’s Extrusions business area.

Hydro Extrusions is the largest business area in Hydro with 21,000 employees in 40 countries. It delivers tailored aluminium components and solutions to all industries, from automotive and mass transportation to building and construction, electronics, offshore and maritime. The business area serves more than 30,000 customers across the world.