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| Novelis' aluminum can recycling plant in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Novelis |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Novelis, a global producer of rolled aluminum and a recycler of beverage cans, has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting recycling for a sustainable future.
According to the company, about 72,000 tons of aluminum cans are produced annually in Korea, and the recycling rate of beverage cans and scraps is 80 percent.
Koreans throw away 20 percent or more than 17 billion won ($14.4 million) worth of aluminum cans every year.
"Aluminum provides an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. It is infinitely recyclable, meaning that it can be recycled over and over again without any loss in quality," Novelis Asia President Sachin Satpute said.
"If the government and citizens realize the importance of aluminum recycling, it will not only benefit the environment but the local economy as well."
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| Novelis' recyclable aluminum can / Courtesy of Novelis |
Novelis, a unit of India's Hindalco Industries, runs an aluminum can recycling plant in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, which is capable of recycling 320,000 tons of beverage cans and scrap annually. The aluminum producer is one of the few multinational companies that operates its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Korea.
Under the slogan "Shaping a Sustainable World," the company has engaged in corporate social responsibility programs in Korea to promote the importance of recycling.
Earlier this year, it organized a "CanCrushChallenge" event at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul to raise awareness of the recycling of aluminum beverage cans.
It has also been active in recycling automotive body sheet products and construction material.
As a result, Novelis won the Grand Prize in the Green Management Excellence category of the 2019 Global Standard Management Awards hosted by the Korea Management Association.
According to the U.S. Aluminum Association, more than 75 percent of aluminum is recycled and still in use today. A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf in as little as 60 days. By contrast, only 9 percent of plastic is being recycled. This results in polluted oceans and overflowing landfills.
The company entered Asia's fourth-largest economy more than 20 years ago and now employs nearly 1,000 workers here.
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