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Collaborating to reduce climate impacts in the automotive industry

07 Jul 2021 | GROUP RELEASE

Gränges and the aluminium and energy company Hydro join forces to provide low-carbon and circular aluminium offerings to the automotive market. A new collaboration has been initiated, in which Gränges sources low-carbon primary aluminium from Hydro.

“We strive to develop solutions that have a low climate impact and are circular and resource efficient, and I am therefore very pleased that we are collaborating with Hydro to source their low-carbon REDUXA primary aluminium,” says Torbjörn Sternsjö, President Gränges Europe. “Increased collaboration in the aluminium value chain is necessary to support the global automotive market’s rapid shift to more sustainable transportation solutions. Gränges’ focus is to develop sustainable products and solutions, both for heat exchangers and battery applications, which support the transition and also enhance the customers’ sustainability performance”, Sternsjö continues.

Sourcing low-carbon primary aluminium from Hydro is an important initiative in Gränges’ strategy to reduce the carbon footprint from sourced metal inputs. Gränges’ customers are increasingly recognizing the importance of using sustainable materials, and customers are often committed to not only reduce their own carbon footprint and emissions in the use phase but also to reduce the emissions in the production phase of the value chain where materials are in focus.

“We are pleased that Gränges has selected one of our low-carbon products in their quest to offer automotive manufacturers sustainable products and solutions. Utilizing our two companies’ material expertise as well as know-how of the automotive industry, we have a good foundation to jointly develop and offer customers attractive and sustainable aluminium solutions,” says Eivind Kallevik, EVP and Head of Aluminium Metal in Hydro.

Gränges and Hydro have a long-standing relationship, and over the years the two companies have conducted several joint research projects to investigate how to lower the carbon footprint of aluminium solutions to the automotive market. In addition to low-carbon primary aluminium, key topics have been the use of recycled aluminium as well as new alloy development.

An increased use of aluminium in transport applications reduces the weight, energy consumption and carbon footprint of the vehicle as well as the range of electric vehicles when in use. It can also contribute to improved resource efficiency and operational performance in the product manufacturing process. Looking at the material itself, the carbon footprint of aluminium varies greatly depending on where and how it is produced.

Gränges and Hydro are both committed to pushing the boundaries for low-carbon and circular aluminium products and thereby supporting the automotive industry to become more sustainable. Having a close cooperation is key to achieve this.

About Hydro REDUXA
Hydro REDUXA low-carbon aluminium has a certified maximum carbon footprint of 4.0 kg CO2e/kg aluminium, which is less than a quarter of the global average and includes emissions from cradle to gate. This means all direct and indirect emissions throughout the aluminium value chain from raw material to finished product, including transport.

About Hydro
Hydro is a leading aluminium and energy company committed to a sustainable future. The company’s purpose is to create more viable societies by developing natural resources into products and solutions in innovative and efficient ways.

For further information, please contact:
Torbjörn Sternsjö, President Europe
torbjorn.sternsjo@granges.com, tel: +46 732 01 49 21

Johan Dufvenmark, VP Group Treasury & Investor Relations
johan.dufvenmark@granges.com, tel: +46 705 97 43 75

About Gränges
Gränges is an aluminium technology company who drives the development of lighter, smarter and more sustainable aluminium products and solutions. The company offers advanced materials that enhance efficiency in the customers’ manufacturing process and the performance of the final products. Gränges’ innovative engineering has transformed the industry for more than 125 years, and the company holds leading positions in rolled products for thermal management systems, speciality packaging and selected niche applications. Gränges has production facilities and conducts sales on three continents, Asia, Europe and Americas. The total annual production capacity amounts to 560 ktonnes. Gränges has 2,600 employees and the share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information is available at www.granges.com.