Designing to dismantle

Together with its automotive partners, Novelis has created the world’s largest closed-loop recycling system that takes back its customers' aluminium scrap and ploughs it back into the supply chain

In recent years, the automotive industry has faced a dilemma: how to develop lighter internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles while also reducing the carbon emissions they produce.

Novelis Inc., a leading materials partner for the automotive industry, has been helping automakers strike a balance between these two goals by developing products that improve its, as well as its customers’, revenue and sustainability quotient.

One way the company has achieved this is by offering aluminium alloys as a replacement to steel for creating lighter body panels for vehicles. Further, Novelis has been advocating the use of recycled aluminium since it requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminium. This switch offers the benefits of both strength and sustainability.

Collaboration is critical to Novelis’ value maximisation journey. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) became one of the first automakers to collaborate with Novelis to utilise an aluminium alloy solution with a high recycled content. The collaboration enabled over $1 million in savings and an 80% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions over standard road transport.

Novelis has also worked with other automotive giants in CLR integration. Ford, for instance, recycles over 90% of its scrap using Novelis’ CLR system. Nissan has implemented CLR across its US and UK facilities. Audi, BMW and Volvo are also implementing it in their European operations.

Novelis’ CLR system is a rare example of collaborative value-generation that bridges the needs of all stakeholders. By lowering costs, maintaining high safety and quality, and reducing environmental impact, the company has set the global automotive sector on the path to sustainable growth.