Sustainable development strategy of the world aluminum industry and its development trend in the future

At the World Conference on Environment and Development held in Japan in 1987, the theory of sustainable development was proposed for the first time. Its general definition is "Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the current generation without endangering the needs of future generations," which has been widely recognized by the international community.

Traditionally, aluminum industry is a basic industry that consumes a lot of resources and energy.

For every 1t of primary aluminum produced, 2t of alumina is consumed (4 ~ 6t of bauxite), 15000kw. h of electricity is consumed, 62GJ of heat is consumed, and a lot of pollution is caused.

Therefore, it is of great significance to realize the sustainable development of aluminum industry.

Since the 1992 World Conference on Environment and Development, the International Aluminium Association has mapped out a template and framework for the future development of the world aluminium industry, followed by the Global Aluminium Industry Sustainable Development Initiative, which calls on all member entities to contribute to the coherence of the global process of sustainable development.

They have selected specific exercise indicators and set a series of non-mandatory targets to stimulate the global aluminium industry's persistent improvement in economic, environmental, social, health and physical safety.

The Global Aluminium Industry Sustainable Development Movement represents a further development of iAA's existing programme of activities aimed at significantly improving the functioning of the global aluminium industry.

In order to realize the sustainable development of aluminum industry, all countries in the world have taken measures to regulate aluminum processing from the aspects of resources, energy, technology, emission and use.

In particular, the financial crisis of 2008 first hit the world's most expensive aluminium industries in China, North America and Europe.

Following Alcoa's decision to cut production by 350, 000 tonnes a year, Hydro announced plans to close a production line at Its Karmoey aluminium plant and close about 40% of its alumina capacity in China.

At the same time, a slowdown in global economic growth has also weighed on aluminium consumption.

In 2010 after the financial crisis, both the output and consumption of primary aluminum in China and the world jumped to a new level in history, and the sustainable development of the global aluminum industry was also put in front of the world.

Aluminum industry not only realizes its own sustainable development, but also drives and promotes the sustainable development of other industries.

The use of aluminum in vehicles greatly reduces the quality of the vehicle, thus saving a lot of energy and reducing gas emissions.

If the vehicle is reduced by 100kg, it can save 150GJ of energy accumulatively and reduce 8.5T of CO2 emission.

Metal aluminum has gone beyond the traditional concept of metal. Due to its light weight, abundant resources, recyclable and other excellent properties, it is becoming a "green" basic material, echoing the concept of global sustainable development.

The research on the development law of international aluminum industry shows that aluminum industry is a sustainable energy storage industry and a sunrise industry.

The major trends of the aluminium industry in the future are as follows."

1) Integration trend.

The trend of energy + resources integration is obvious, that is, within a region or within an enterprise group, the industrial chain of aluminum industry should be extended as far as possible, so that resources and production processes can be more easily mastered and costs can be saved.

2) Collectivization trend.

To form comprehensive advantages, increase market competitiveness and achieve economies of scale.

3) Internationalization trend.

The international trend of resources, energy, technology and market of aluminum industry is obvious, and the international competition is more intense. The result of the competition will reduce the manufacturing cost and use cost of aluminum.

4) Ecological trend.

In the future, the aluminum industry will pay more attention to saving resources and energy and reducing pollution emission, so that the aluminum industry will become a real ecological industry.

The "ecologicalization" mentioned here is the concrete manifestation of sustainable development, and also the result of developing aluminum industry according to the theory of sustainable development.