The aluminium stewardship initiative (ASI) is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and it is a time for reflection and stocktaking. While many big names have become members, there is a lingering sense that market uptake of ASI certified aluminium products could be faster. Now is the time to make changes to boost demand. A round of stakeholder consultations and updates to ASI’s sustainability standards has just been launched. Top of the list should be simplifying the transfer of ASI aluminium down the supply chain. Secondly, more prominence should be given to recycled aluminium to widen ASI’s appeal. Thirdly, a critical look at the membership fees, to encourage brand owners to participate, and more consumer focussed publicity would also be a good idea.
Unlike many other commodities, the aluminium sector only has one sustainability scheme. So, companies interested in selling certified sustainable products mainly look to ASI. In November 2024, there were about 300 certifications to the Performance Standard but only 99 for the Chain of Custody Standard. More companies have become certified since then, but the total number of certifications is likely to be less than 600. Although this is to be applauded, it is not as good as other well-known schemes. ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) has 6000 certificates for ISCC PLUS, its voluntary scheme for the renewable materials industry, launched at about the same time as ASI. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), the forerunner to all sustainability schemes, and which has been going for over thirty years, has 50,000 chain of custody certificate holders. Both of these Schemes have direct competitors.
ASI is gaining traction in the luxury automotive and packaging sectors with complete supply chains certified and the ASI logo making its first appearances on packaging. But members in other sectors report little demand for ASI certified end-products. It is consumer demand that really drives uptake. Hence the need for ASI to take its message to the wider public.
The recently launched Standards Revision process aims to simplify the Chain of Custody standard. While certification to the Performance Standard is obligatory for members, Chain of Custody (CoC) certification is optional. The CoC Standard is certainly more complicated than it needs to be, which may be putting companies off. Ten years ago, ASI chose a cumbersome method to balance the mass of ASI products purchased with those sold. All aluminium containing inputs and outputs have to be accounted for, even if only a small quantity of ASI certified aluminium is purchased and sold. In contrast, other Schemes restrict the mass balance accounting system to certified materials only, which significantly reduces both the workload and the audit time. Now is the time to adopt a much simpler mass balance accounting method, with the aim of turbocharging the sale and purchase of ASI certified products.
Recycled aluminium content is becoming increasingly important. Consumers are aware of the need to recycle, and many understand that aluminium is infinitely recyclable. Currently, operators must rely on auditors' own Standards to verify their recycled content claims. Under existing ASI rules, both post and pre-consumer scrap lose their recycled identity. But if ASI were to provide for audited recycled content claims, then more operators might take up the CoC standard, as there is a strong demand for recycled aluminium products.
The high cost of membership should also be revisited with the aim of encouraging more brand owners to get involved. Although joining fees are lower for small companies, audit costs are high across the board, with minimum mandatory audit times laid down by ASI. A large company, with a revenue of more than 10 billion dollars pays an annual fee of over $38,000 to be a member. Although there is no volume related fee for the sale of ASI certified products, companies that don't yet sell any ASI products will not benefit. ISCC and FSC, mentioned above, both have more flexible ways of charging for participation, via licensing schemes for brand owners and volume related fees replacing high annual charges.
Of course, existing members also have their own ideas for improvements. It won’t be easy to reconcile all aspirations, but ASI needs to keep its sights firmly focussed on changes that will increase uptake of the certification. And after ten years, ASI should be mature enough to learn from the success of other Schemes.
Published: 15 September 25
