Breathe Easy and Make an Impact
Alcoa of Australia has long recognised climate change as one of the key sustainability issues of our time, and we are not only reducing emissions through technology advancements within our operations, but through partnerships and by raising community awareness.

In February 2009, our 27 year sustainability partnership with Greening Australia saw the official launch of Breathe Easy. Alcoa is the foundation partner of this leading edge program that enables individuals to offset their carbon emissions. It complements our Make an Impact program, designed to empower both individuals and communities to think and act differently in a carbon constrained world. Read more about Breathe Easy at: www.alcoa.com.au/breathe_easy and www.breatheeasynow.com.au.

Participation in Make an Impact, our signature employee engagement initiative, continues to rise.  In addition to community involvement, more than 1,400 employees in Australia are now part of the program, which is helping them become part of the solution to climate change.

Make an Impact helps Alcoans and the wider community reduce their household water and energy use. It was founded in Australia in 2006 with Alcoa Foundation funds in partnership with Greening Australia, and in 2009 the program went global, enjoying a roll out in the United States in partnership with the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

In mid 2009, Alcoa of Australia launched a new Make an Impact website.  It includes a range of carbon reduction tips to help individuals reduce their greenhouse footprint at home, while on the move, at the shops, in the garden and at work.  Featuring discussion about the impact of climate change worldwide, and facts about Australia’s greenhouse footprint, the website is also a useful resource for school students.

Alcoa is committed to broadening the reach of Make an Impact. Plans are underway to make available the online Make an Impact energy use calculator (providing individual measurements and customised action plans) to several of Alcoa’s partners in 2010 – further mobilising individual climate change action within the community.

Read more about Make an Impact at: www.alcoa.com.au/makeanimpact.