Capral and Rio Tinto Complete Successful Trial of Recycled-Content Aluminium Billets

Australia's largest aluminium extruder, Capral, has successfully completed a trial using recycled-content billets supplied by Rio Tinto at Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), marking a significant stride towards sustainable manufacturing. The trial involved remelting 50 to 100 tonnes of post-production aluminium scrap sourced from Capral's Bremer Park extrusion plant in Southeast Queensland, resulting in billets containing at least 20% recycled content.

This achievement is a step forward in creating a closed-loop aluminium manufacturing process that aims to minimise waste and reduce the carbon footprint associated with aluminium extrusions. The trial aligns with the Australian Government's Future Made in Australia policy, highlighting the country's commitment to sustainable industrial practices.

The entire value chain for this project was kept within Australia, from the sourcing of raw materials like bauxite and alumina, to the production of primary aluminium, and ultimately to Capral's extrusion process and Rio Tinto's remelting of scrap. This demonstrates Capral's dedication to environmental stewardship and the potential for sustainable manufacturing within the Australian aluminium industry.

Capral is now considering integrating the recycled-content billets into its broader product offerings, which could reshape local production standards and promote eco-friendly practices across the industry. The successful trial at BSL underscores Australia's potential to lead with closed-loop aluminium solutions and contribute to a greener future.

Luke Hawkins, Capral's Divisional General Manager of Industrial Solutions and Supply, noted, "While Capral recycles the vast majority of our scrap, it has traditionally been sent offshore for processing, often ending up in different products than we produce. We are excited to be working with Rio Tinto, our main domestic supplier, on this project, with hopes that soon we can recycle all of our scrap locally and use it to support circularity within the Australian aluminium industry."

By supplying post-production scrap to Rio Tinto, Capral is effectively closing the loop, keeping valuable materials within Australia and converting them into practical products. This partnership provides Capral with an efficient waste management solution and enhances its sustainability profile.

Hawkins added, "We are driven by the industry to incorporate recycled content into our supply chain. We've worked hard to introduce LocAl and LocAl Super Green, our lower carbon aluminium products, and the addition of this aluminium material with 20% recycled content is another important step in our evolving procurement strategy towards delivering more sustainable aluminium to Australian manufacturers."

Blending post-production recycled content with virgin material has allowed Capral to produce billets that meet the high-quality standards required by industries such as construction and transportation. This successful closed-loop recycling effort demonstrates the practicality of combining sustainability with industrial efficiency, setting new standards for resource utilisation.