ASI Aluminum Performance Standards Certification to Promote Sustainable Development of the Aluminum

The Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization focused on the management of independent third-party certification projects in the aluminum value chain. ASI encourages participation inthe aluminum value chain, from bauxite and alumina to downstream aluminum product users. Promote material management throughout the lifecycle of aluminum to ensure shared responsibility in the mining, production, use, and recycling of aluminum.

ASI membership

Although ASI membership is voluntary, certification of ASI performance standards is a mandatory requirement for members in the categories of "production and transformation processing" and "industrial users". They must have at least one facility certified to performance standards within two years of joining ASI.

Production and conversion processing

The organization has one or more of the following activities: bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminum smelting, aluminum remelting or refining, semi-finished product processing and/or material conversion.

Industrial users

Organizations that manufacture aluminum containing consumer or industrial products in aviation, automotive, construction, durable consumer goods, engineering, IT, and similar industries, as well as industry organizations that use aluminum in their product packaging in beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, or other industries.

If an organization has implemented "material conversion" (production and conversion as described above) but also qualifies for the industrial user category, they can recommend either of these two categories based on their desired ASI certification level.

ASI terminology explanation

casting

Molten aluminum in furnaces typically sourced from aluminum liquid, cold materials, and/or other alloy metals is cast to form specific casting products to meet customer specific needs, or supplied as liquid aluminum to customers. Aluminum or its alloy casting products, in form, include aluminum and its alloy ingots, rolled billets, bars, extruded billets, wire or other professional products, as well as products marked with production castings and unique identification numbers or products containing physical stamping or markings.

Semi finished products

The product after rolling or extrusion processing of the cast product is an intermediate processing stage for subsequent material conversion and/or further downstream processing and finished product manufacturing. Examples of semi-finished products include thin sheets, aluminum foils, and can billets; Squeeze rods, rods, profiles, tubes, and other products, such as wire billets, wire rods, powders, and slurries.

Material conversion

Further processing of cast or semi-finished aluminum products (such as cutting, stamping, bending, connecting, forging, product casting, packaging production, etc.) to produce finished products or components for final assembly or sale to end consumers.

The content of ASI performance standards

The ASI performance standards establish environmental, social, and governance sustainability requirements for entities and facilities engaged in the aluminum value chain. Thestandard includes the following content:

govern

1. Corporate integrity: Entities should conduct their business in accordance with high standards of integrity and compliance.

2. Policy and Management: The entity commits to sound management of its environment, society, and governance processes.

3. Transparency: Entities should have transparency in accordance with internationally recognized reporting standards.

4. Material management: Entities should strive to promote resource utilization efficiencyand aluminum recycling and reuse from a lifecycle perspective, which should be reflected not only in their internal operations but also in the aluminum value chain.

environment

5. Greenhouse gas emissions: According to the ultimate goal set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, entities should strive to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a lifecycle perspective to mitigate their negative impact on global climate.

6. Air pollutants, water pollutants, and solid waste: The entity should minimize the emissions of air pollutants and water pollutants that have adverse effects on human health and the environment, and manage waste according to waste mitigation levels.

7. Water resource management: Entities should responsibly fetch, use, and manage water to support the management of shared water resources.

8. Biodiversity and ecosystem services: Entities should manage their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services based on the hierarchy of biodiversity mitigation, in order to protect ecosystems, habitats, and species.

society

9. Human rights: Entities should respect and support the individual and collective human rights affected by their operations. Entities should take appropriate actions to assess, prevent, and mitigate potential adverse effects on human rights in a manner that meetsthe requirements of international human rights documents.

10. Labor rights: Entities should uphold decent work and employee human rights in accordance with the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) or other relevant ILO conventions, and respect employees and uphold their dignity.

11. Occupational health and safety: The entity should provide safe and healthy working conditions to all employees.