FORGING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS in the metals industry

Runaya made waves by unveiling its advanced Calcium Aluminate Plant in Jharsuguda, underscoring its commitment to environmental leadership and technological progress in the industry. In conversation with Annanya Agarwal, CEO & Co-Founder, Runaya.

- Sujatha Vishnuraj

Aluminum, a versatile material integral to various industries today, plays a crucial role in products ranging from packaging to aviation. Its production, however, poses environmental challenges as it consumes natural resources and generates production residues. Following iron, aluminum stands as the world’s second most utilised metal, extracted primarily from bauxite, an abundant mineral constituting 8% of the Earth’s crust.

The refinement of bauxite into alumina and subsequent smelting processes contribute over 90% of direct CO2 emissions in aluminum production. Notably, the energy-intensive electrolysis stage accounts for a significant portion of these emissions. While primary aluminum production incurs higher energy costs, secondary production, mainly from recycled materials, significantly reduces energy expenses.

The benefits of aluminium recycling extend beyond energy savings, with the potential to mitigate global warming and decrease fossil fuel dependency by up to 94%. Since 1880, approximately one billion tons of aluminum have been produced worldwide, with a substantial portion still in use today, notably in construction, electrical components, transportation, and beverage packaging.

The widespread use of aluminum across various sectors can be attributed to its lightweight nature, durability, conductivity, affordability, and ease of processing. Moreover, the aluminium industry plays a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in transportation, where lightweight aluminium components contribute to fuel efficiency.