Diageo, a leading beverage manufacturer, has announced that it will be working alongside industry experts as part of the British Aluminium Consortium for Advanced Alloys (BACALL). Together, they are set to create a circular economy for aluminium in the UK, thereby establishing a new supply chain for aluminium. A statement released by the consortium notes that the UK is currently dependent on an unsustainable exporting and importing process, which is both energy-intensive and detrimental to the environment.
BACALL, with funding provided by Diageo, will construct a plant set to roll hundreds of thousands of tonnes of aluminium sheet, producing an excess of 400 million cans of Guinness and pre-mixed Gordon’s and tonic. Upon operation, the plant will allow Diageo to contribute significantly to its 10-year sustainability action plan by reducing carbon emissions and dependency on raw materials needed to create aluminium.
The use of recycled aluminium is a vital step towards sustainable food packaging, and Diageo’s commitment to a circular economy strategy will result in several benefits. Firstly, by increasing the use of recycled aluminium, Diageo will be supporting the reduction of carbon emissions required in exporting and importing aluminium sheets. Additionally, the production process will use 95% less energy compared to traditional prime production methods, leading to reduced Scope 3 carbon emissions.
Diageo has been working closely with BACALL since 2021, jointly funding a feasibility study with the UK government to explore the adoption of circular economy strategies across the aluminium sector in the UK. The development of the plant will establish a circular economy strategy, localizing and closing the supply chain, creating substantial reductions in carbon emissions, and securing the future capacity of ultra-low carbon alloys.
Ewan Andrew, the Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo, is enthusiastic about the project and its potential to revolutionize the production of aluminium in the UK. He emphasizes the firm’s commitment to reducing aluminium’s carbon footprint and bringing this part of the supply chain back to the UK. David Sneddon, Non-Executive Director of BACALL Aluminium, expects the creation of this plant and supply chain to help develop a more sustainable aluminium industry and secure the future of ultra-low carbon alloys, contributing to carbon footprint reduction.
In conclusion, the development of this plant and supply chain presents a significant opportunity for the UK to not only reduce its carbon footprint but also lead the world in sustainable manufacturing practices. Geoff Scamans, Professor of Metallurgy at Brunel University, praises Diageo and BACALL for beginning this process and acknowledges that aluminium’s potential to be zero carbon can only be achieved through a dramatic reduction in emissions throughout the entire supply chain. The development of the circular economy for aluminium is, therefore, a significant milestone in achieving a more sustainable future for the food packaging industry in the UK.
