New increases in the use of aluminum in consumer electronics, automobiles, packaging and infrastructure are among the top drivers for growth in rolled aluminum products, and concerns about sustainability are behind much of the trend, according to Philip Martens, president and COO of Novelis Inc. Martens spoke on June 22 at CRU's 15th annual Aluminium Conference in Oslo, Norway. Novelis is the world's largest producer of rolled aluminum and the global leader in beverage can recycling.
According to Martens, the sustainability characteristics of aluminum are especially important in:
Sustainability is becoming a driver for more and more policy and product decisions, observed Martens, which will open opportunities for the environmental benefits of aluminum. "I believe that recycling holds the key to a successful future for our industry," he said.
Novelis estimates global demand for aluminum will rise "about four percent annually over the next five years," said Martens, "with Asia being perhaps double that rate."
About Novelis
Novelis Inc. is the global leader in aluminum rolled products and aluminum can recycling. The company operates in 11 countries, has approximately 11,600 employees and reported revenue of $8.7 billion in its 2010 fiscal year. Novelis supplies premium aluminum sheet and foil products to automotive, transportation, packaging, construction, industrial and printing markets throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, one of Asia's largest integrated producers of aluminum and a leading copper producer. Hindalco is a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate based in Mumbai, India.