Novelis and Infinitum have renewed their aluminium recycling partnership, shifting focus from pilot projects to scale and supply stability. The collaboration will expand recycling systems to strengthen recycled aluminium supply and support low-carbon production. The move also aligns with Novelis’ “3x30” targets to raise recycled content to 75% and reduce emissions intensity to below 3 tonnes of CO2 per tonne by 2030. Amid supply chain volatility, scaling recycling helps secure feedstock, manage costs and advance decarbonisation goals.

Raffineria Metalli Cusiana S.p.a. (Cusiana), a major Italian secondary aluminium refiner supplying multinational automotive, construction and furniture companies across Europe, has established a strategic partnership with TOMRA Recycling to redefine aluminium recycling with advanced multi-sensor sorting technology. Together, they have pioneered a multi-stage sorting line, enabling Cusiana to move beyond traditional ingot production and create branded, near carbon-free aluminium ingots and specific high-purity alloys, maximising profit while also delivering significant environmental benefits.

Speira has commissioned “Bernhard,” the first of four modernised aluminium-recycling furnaces, as part of an €11 million programme at its Grevenbroich plant. The tiltable rotary unit, chosen and named by employees in memory of a late colleague, holds up to 25 tonnes and is designed to process difficult “low-grade” scrap and dross. Two additional furnaces will be installed at Töging and a second at Grevenbroich, entering service in October 2025, May 2026 and October 2026 respectively. The new equipment—complete with automatic chargers, advanced burners, suction hoods and thermal afterburners—raises productivity while cutting CO₂ emissions and is future-ready for hydrogen fuel. Easier maintenance, enclosed metal tapping and reduced vehicle traffic enhance workplace safety. CEO Einar Glomnes highlighted the move as part of Speira’s commitment to a circular economy, while local officials welcomed the investment for safeguarding jobs in the Rhineland region.

[Aluminium Dunkerque inaugurates €13 million recycling furnace] On May 2025, Aluminium Dunkerque officially launched a €13 million melting furnace, known as Furnace 8, dedicated to aluminium recycling. The new unit will process 7,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap annually and deliver 20,000 tonnes of low-carbon metal, cutting CO₂ emissions per tonne of ingots by 10%. This equates to 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ and 96 GWh of electricity saved each year. The installation also created eight new jobs. Furnace 8 incorporates advanced technologies such as oxy-fuel burners and a closed-loop industrial water system, boosting environmental performance. With a capacity of 10 tonnes per hour, the furnace strengthens France’s domestic recycling capacity and supports industrial decarbonisation, especially in the automotive sector. Aluminium Dunkerque, France’s last major primary aluminium smelter, produces 300,000 tonnes of aluminium annually for use in automotive, defense, transport, and packaging industries.

Hydro Begins Construction of Flagship Aluminium Recycling Plant in Torija, Spain On March 17, 2025, Hydro broke ground on its flagship aluminium recycling plant in Torija, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The €150 million facility is set to begin operations in 2026, producing 120,000 tonnes of aluminium extrusion ingots annually to supply key industries such as transportation, automotive, construction, and energy with low-carbon recycled aluminium. The new plant will operate in synergy with Hydro’s existing facility in Azuqueca, bringing their combined capacity to over 200,000 tonnes. Utilizing advanced sorting and production technologies, the Torija plant will recycle up to 70,000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap per year, manufacturing high-recycled-content specialty alloys. Hydro plans to hire 65 new employees ahead of the plant’s launch, reinforcing its commitment to aluminium circularity and European industrial competitiveness.

The return of U.S. aluminum tariffs under Trump’s administration has reignited global trade tensions, affecting supply chains and market trends. While tariffs aim to support domestic production, the U.S. still relies heavily on imports, driving up aluminum prices and raising costs for industries like automotive, construction, and packaging. Despite government backing, primary aluminum production remains limited, with recycling and secondary output expected to become more important. Global trade patterns may change as key suppliers like Canada look for new markets, while uncertainty over U.S. trade policies keeps market sentiment cautious.