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Sustainability in Australia
In 2007, the issues of global demand, unprecedented growth, and climate change highlighted how important it is for our Australian operations to manage the social, environmental, and economic aspects of our business.
Within Australia, sustainability is ingrained in our business, embracing not just our own operations but also the communities where we operate. A good example is how we—a major energy and water user—are addressing the challenge of climate change both within and without our operations.
Over the past decade, our Australian operations have significantly reduced their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Our Victorian smelters achieved a 20% reduction per ton of aluminum produced since 1990, and our alumina refineries in Western Australia reduced their emissions by 6% from an already efficient base.
It is through innovation and efficiency that we are delivering these GHG improvements in Australia, and we will continue to take a lead role in this area. For example, our scientists in Australia have developed a process that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce the alkalinity of a major refinery byproduct called bauxite residue. Through this one technology, we are able to capture large amounts of a major greenhouse gas while also paving the way for a major waste to be reused.
Our commitment to sustainability in general and climate change specifically must extend beyond our operations. It is through strong partnerships with communities, government, and non-governmental organizations around Australia that we can continue to invigorate communities, promote conservation, and advance sustainability programs for the long-term benefit of all.
A good example is our partnership with Greening Australia to help our employees and their families reduce household GHG emissions. Called Make an Impact, the program provides an internet-based greenhouse calculator and information about ways to reduce energy and water consumption and manage waste more effectively.
We are confident in meeting the challenges ahead in our Australia operations. It is through our strong corporate values and governance systems and our global Strategic Framework for Sustainability that we will continue to identify key sustainability issues and set targets for improvement.
For detailed information about Alcoa's sustainability performance in Australia, please read the 2006 Australia sustainability report.
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Case Studies
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Employees & Sustainability
"Maybe it is selfish, but my view is very personal. I have four young children, and as I age (gracefully, I might add), I worry about the legacy I and the world I live in today leaves them. I see habits and behaviors that we cannot continue to tolerate if we are to sustain our resources and environment for future generations. I also see a wonderful opportunity for Alcoa and me, as a leader in a large industrial company, to model behaviors that show the world we can manage to make acceptable returns while adding value to the societies in which we operate and being very careful and innovative to not damage the environment too much. I am proud that Alcoa continues to look for improvements in maximizing value in the communities in which we operate while reducing our footprint. We have, and we represent sustainability values in a world where little is binary. If we as a company did not, I would not be part of this company."
Alan Cransberg
Managing Director, Alcoa of Australia
"I enjoy life in the world as I know it and want to preserve and maintain a great place for my children and three grandchildren to grow up in. Sustainability on a daily basis at home means maintaining our water tanks, mulching the garden, keeping our cattle and chooks (chickens) happy, and growing our own fruit and veggies (vegetables). It means preserving excess produce from the seasons, recycling timber, making things from "useful stuff"-of which I have a shed full for a rainy day! It means taking care of the small piece of land my wife and I have.
"It's important to embrace new technology that will assist us all to live our lives, leaving less of an adverse impact on the little bit of Earth we call our own, which in turn makes a difference to the whole Earth. After spending a couple of months in Europe, I realize what a wonderful country Australia is, and I am determined to do all I can to keep it that way."
Ken Hose
Pot Rooms Day Crew, Point Henry Smelter
"Sustainability for me is using our resources wisely and always looking for opportunities to minimize our 'carbon footprint.' We all need to think about what we are doing today and how it will affect future generations. We need to continue to educate people, young and old, to think about the resources we use and how every bit helps save the planet.
"We run a 'Carbon Points Challenge' at home, which is aimed at encouraging us all to do the right thing; for example, four-minute showers, use of green shopping bags (not the plastic bags), worm farming, mulching, etc. It is important to me as an individual so we can leave this wonderful world to our children and future generations."
Suzanne Bannerman
Physiotherapist and Ergonomist, Pinjarra Alumina Refinery
"To me, sustainability means that my children and grandchildren should be entitled to have an equal or better quality of life than I have had. It means that when I have keeled over—departed—from this Earth, I wish that my children remember me for the quality and opportunities in life that I have given them, and not for being one black footprint among billions that are stained permanently into our planet."
Mark Radford
Manufacturing Engineer (Electrical), Portland Smelter
"I think of industry as having two 'footprints.' One covers aspects like resource usage and emissions, while the second footprint represents benefits like employment, shareholder value, technology development, and community support. To me, sustainability is about looking for unique opportunities to reduce the size of the negative footprint, while simultaneously increasing the impact of the positive footprint. These unique opportunities are not obvious or they would have already been adopted. They will only be realized by focusing time and resources outside the day-to-day running of the business, which is why research and development people are ideally placed to pursue these unique opportunities."
David Cooling
Research Program Manager, Technology Delivery Group
"From my perspective in Human Resources, sustainability includes helping people balance career and family so they can meet their personal needs and realize their dreams.
If employees feel secure, they will want to see the business grow, and they will see us an employer of choice, not just for themselves, but also for their children. Sustainability also doesn't just mean creating employment now, but also developing the next generation, particularly through apprenticeships and graduate placements."
Michelle Bittle
Human Resources Manager, Alcoa Australia Rolled Products, Yennora
Alcoa's Sustainability Partners in Australia
"Alcoa has set a great example of corporate support. It's not just about providing financial support, but using its capacity to work with people from communities and expand their knowledge and skill base with the main aim of taking that knowledge back to their own communities where it can really make a difference.
"The Alcoa Community Partner and Governance Scholarships have set a new benchmark in how companies can support communities and community groups and are a great acknowledgement of the work these people are doing in their own communities. They also recognize their standing as leaders who can spread the knowledge, spread the skills, and spread the inspiration.
"These scholarships are just one example of Alcoa's work in helping build capacity in the community. Alcoa partners with a variety of organizations on projects designed to empower and grow communities."
Denis Moriarty,
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Our Community (www.ourcommunity.com.au)
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Click image to enlarge.
Helping students set up a worm farm. Read the case study.
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Click image to enlarge.
Alcoa employees and their friends and family members have planted more than 750,000 trees in the wheat belt of Western Australia. Read the case study.
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Australia Country Page
Learn more about Alcoa's presence in Australia.
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