Fjardaál's contribution for a better environment
Alcoa Fjardaál's policy is to support the protection of the environment. Accordingly the company actively participates in environmental projects, mostly with a focus on the communities close to the smelter in East-Iceland.
Already, there are four projects underway, for which Alcoa Fjardaál has committed its support. These are: planting of several thousands of trees as a part of Alcoa´s international project “Ten million trees”, a forest reclamation project in the Fjardaál Team Village (FTV) area, the intended Vatnajokull National Park, the Landvernd Climate Change Project and a Sustainability Project with Landsvirkjun, the company which will provide energy for the Fjardaál smelter.
„Ten Million Trees“
Alcoa launched the “Ten Million Trees” foresting project on Earth Day in June, 2003. This is an international effort, which includes all Alcoa employees, as well as suppliers, service providers, etc. The Icelandic part of the effort started formally in June, 2003, when school children and other Fjardabyggd residents planted the first trees of several thousand that Alcoa intends to present to Fjardabyggd. Read more about the Ten Million Trees effort on the Ten Million Trees page.
Forest reclamation by the Fjardaál Team Village (FTV)
When a site had been found for the Fjardaál Team Village (the camp where Fjardaál construction team lives), it turned out that the Reydarfjordur Forestry Association had planted some trees in the area. These have been carefully removed by the association, in co-operation with Alcoa, and are kept in a protected area. Alcoa Fjardaál has committed to return the area fully grown, with a variety of vegetation, including the trees that were there before.
The Vatnajokull National Park
After Alcoa had announced that it would build an aluminum plant in Iceland, the company expressed its interest in supporting valuable efforts for the conservation of Icelandic nature. In 2002, Alcoa published a press release on account of an intended National Park north of Vatnajokull glacier:
“Alcoa Fjardaál welcomes the report on the National Park North of Vatnajokull, prepared by a committee led by the Ministry of Environment and dedicated to foundation of a national park in that area. The unanimous support within the committee for this report lays the groundwork for what could become one of the most remarkable national parks in the northern hemisphere.”
Consequently, Alcoa, Landsvirkjun and the government of Iceland signed an MOU of a National Park or nature preserve north of Vatnajokull glacier, on 19 July 2002. Alcoa awaits further developments before defining the company’s role in the future project.
The Landvernd Climate Change Project
Alcoa is one of the supporting parties for a Climate Change Project initiated by Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association. This is an innovative project, meant to generate ideas on how to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas concentrations in Iceland.
The Alcoa and Landsvirkjun Sustainability Initiative
Alcoa and Landsvirkjun power company, which are both involved in large projects in East-Iceland, have joined forces on an initiative guided by Alcoa and Landsvirkjun’s principles on sustainable development. The companies sought out stakeholders - institutions, NGOs and companies – which may be affected by the projects, and invited them to appoint a representative in an Advisory Group which would pinpoint possible indicators for a report on sustainable development. For more information, go to the Alcoa Landsvirkjun Sustainability Initiative page.
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Welfare for the Future
The Ministry for the Environment published in 2002 an extensive report on the Icelandic government's aims for sustainable development, "Welfare for the Future - Iceland's National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2002-2020."
 view report
Every year, Alcoa publishes a report on our efforts toward sustainable development.
view as PDF
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