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December 12, 2003
Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing will contribute to Alcoa’s sustainability
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Alcoa will contribute over $5.5 million in the seven years to the Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing, officially launched today.
Alcoa Managing Director Wayne Osborn said the centre was an important element in Alcoa’s overall commitment to sustainable development in the aluminium industry.
“Alcoa is committed to a global approach to improving sustainability performance. Importantly, this includes the abatement of greenhouse gases and improving energy efficiency,” he said.
“The objectives of the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing complements the recently announced Global Aluminium Sustainable Development Initiative, an unprecedented program by the international aluminium sector to address the sustainability concerns of people wherever the industry operates and its products are used.”
Mr Osborn said a big part of the Global Aluminium Sustainable Development Initiative would be to continue to shrink the industry’s environmental footprint while growing its ability to supply an endlessly recyclable material that people value as integral to their needs.
“Aluminium is common and essential to our everyday lives. Aluminium is used in beverage cans, window frames, commuter trains, ships and planes. It is produced on every continent, in both developed and developing economies. Aluminium’s flexibility, durability and recyclability have made it the world’s second most used metal,” he said.
“In fact, of the 680 million tonnes manufactured since 1886, 440 million tonnes, that’s two thirds, are still in use today.”
Mr Osborn said the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing would continue to drive an essential component in aluminium’s sustainability - research and development.
“We are committed to research and development, spending more than $23 million in Australia each year. Alcoa’s global research centre based at our Kwinana Refinery employs 75 scientists – making us one of, if not the, largest industry employers of scientists in Western Australia,” he said.
“Our many research and development projects have contributed towards finding solutions for some of Australia’s most important issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and conservation of our native forests.”
Mr Osborn congratulated the Federal Government for its support of the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing.
“The Federal Government has recognised the significance of the resources sector to Western Australia’s and the nation’s economy by their support of the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing, basing it here in WA,” he said.
The Co-operative Research Centre program is a Federal Government initiative that was established in 1990s to improve the effectiveness of Australia’s research and development effort. It links researchers with industry to focus research and development efforts on progress towards utilisation and commercialisation.
The close interaction between researchers and the users of research is a key feature of the program. Another feature is industry contribution to cooperative research centre education programs to produce industry-ready graduates.
Over the past 12 years, participants have committed more than $7 billion (cash and in-kind) to CRCs. This includes $1.8 billion by the Australian Government, $1.8 billion by universities, $1.3 billion by industry and almost $1 billion by CSIRO.
Further Information:
Jo Ferrie
Alcoa World Alumina Australia
Corporate Affairs
Phone: +61 8 9316 5208
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