The world’s largest aluminum recycling facility has been opened by Novelis.
The £160m project has the capacity to process up to 400,000 tons and is located at Nachterstedt, Germany.
The plant was part of the company’s drive to shift its business model from a traditional linear approach to a closed-loop model, said, Phil Martens, chief executive, Novelis.
This new facility further strengthens Novelis’ leadership in Europe and, together with the major recycling operations in Asia, North America and South America, solidifies Novelis’ position as the global aluminum recycling leader, added Martens.
Since 2011, its global recycling capacity rose to 2.1 million tons a year with its recycled content from 30 percent to 46 percent. Its goal is to achieve 80 percent recycled content by 2020.
This strategy enables to accelerate and capitalize on the sustainability potential of aluminum as a lightweight, infinitely recyclable metal and to dramatically reduce the embedded carbon in products. In an increasingly energy- and carbon-constrained environment, it will be a key source of competitive advantage for company and customers, said Martens.
The Nachterstedt Recycling Center features the latest technology for scrap sorting, de-coating, melting and casting. Approximately 200 employees will work there.