Novelis boosts recycled content

By Jerry Powell, Resource Recycling

The world's largest rolled aluminum product maker has pushed its recycled-content level to 39 percent from 33 percent in just one year.

Novelis is a leading maker of aluminum can sheet used in the production of beer and soft drink cans. More than 60 percent of the firm's rolled-product shipments go to canmakers, with Novelis being the top supplier to many beverage companies, including Coca-Cola.

The aluminum producer operates major can recycling plants in Berea, Kentucky; Greensboro, Georgia; and Oswego, New York. Much of the recovered metal remelted at these plants is supplied by Evermore Recycling, a joint venture purchasing operation in which Novelis owns about 56 percent and Alcoa owns the remainder. Novelis has informed Alcoa it is withdrawing from Evermore, as is reported in the above story.

The aluminum company had net shipments of 3.12 million in its fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. This represents a 4.4 percent drop from the previous year. Novelis purchased or tolled approximately 1.2 million tons of aluminum scrap, including old cans, in 2012.

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