Progress on social and environmental issues can also be achieved through constructive critiques and input by critical external stakeholders. The European aluminium industry has made significant efforts to establish partnerships with various NGOs, institutions and institutes or specific projects and initiatives of mutual interest.

Sustainable Development Indicators:

A set of sustainable development indicators was established in association with the T he Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy and the Versailles University which provided the EAA with invaluable assistance by collecting the views of hundreds of internal and external stakeholders across Europe and translating them into concrete suggestions for economic, environment and social indicators. Representatives from the European Parliament, European Commission, UNEP, trade unions, NGOs, other industries and national bodies recognised the EAA indicator process as a pioneering and valuable effort. Some stakeholders underlined the apparent imbalance between a sustainable industry and significant threats to its future survival in Europe.

The European Aluminium Association has officially launched the results of its groundbreaking exercise on sustainable development indicators in October 2004 in Brussels.

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Aluminium in Transportation and the Environment:

The “Amici della Terra” association – belonging to the Friends of the Earth international federation and well-known for introducing transportation external costs assessment in Italy – achieved a study titled ‘Environmental compatibility of a potential increase in aluminium use in the transportation sector', in cooperation with the European Aluminium Association. The analysis of the environmental impact of the production and use of vehicles and the relative quantification hereof in economic terms, highlight the fact that using aluminium would give a significant reduction of impact of each individual car (roughly 7% by 2020) compared to the current trend.

Current estimation show that globally there will be, by the year 2020, a 35% increase of CO2 emissions for all vehicles. An increased use of aluminium would limit this percentage to only 28%, thus contributing to guiding the transportation sector towards sustainability.

The outcomes of the study were presented in November 2001, at the Aluminium Days Congress, held by the European Aluminium Association on the theme ‘Green aluminium'. On this occasion, the “Amici della Terra” association exposed the results of their study and cooperation with the EAA.

This joint exercise was an important example of an open and constructive dialogue between the environmental world and the aluminium industry, which has made knowledge and internal data banks available.

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Aluminium for the Transportation Industry in Europe :

In cooperation with the European aluminium industry, the Bocconi University developed a study titled “Aluminium for the Transportation industry in Europe”. The study analyses the process of spread of aluminium in transportation as a technological innovation. It pointed out the fact that the spread of aluminium in transportation, as a technological innovation, gives competitive advantages to producers and customers, with evident social benefits.

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Aluminium buildings applications:

The Delft University of Technology investigated aluminium content and collection rates in both residential and non residential buildings. The demolition of a significant number of buildings in six European countries was closely monitored and comprehensive data were gathered. The study, published in January 2004, shown that the collection rates of aluminium in building are to vary from 92% and 98%. It clearly demonstrated the aluminium pivotal role in building and thus in the pursuit of full sustainability.

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Recycling scheme for aluminium packaging:

“ Recycling scheme for aluminium packaging” is a p roject carried out by Aluminium & Miljø in Denmark, aimed at building up experience with recycling of aluminium from households in the pilot area of Inder Nörrebro, Copenhagen. The project has developed dialogue activities with external stakeholders and set up recycling schemes and cooperation between industry and local/national authorities.

Available on request