A Novelis, which operates in the aluminum laminates and recycling sector in Brazil and around the world, announced investments of around R$ 6 million in the installation of almost a thousand photovoltaic modules in yours 14 can collection centers distributed throughout Brazilian territory.
The initiative meets the global sustainability goals from the company, which aims to reduce its CO2 footprint by 30% by 2026 and achieve emissions neutrality by 2050 in its operations around the world.
According to the company, the panels, which will begin to be implemented in February 2023, will generate 603.8 MWh/year, which will make the collection centers self-sufficient in consumption.
In total, Novelis stated that the estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is 231.1t of CO2/year, which would be equivalent to 344 cars traveling 10 km per day (0.184 kg CO2/km) on average, or carbon capture from 31,229 trees in the Amazon rainforest (7.4 kg CO2/tree throughout the year).
The main activities of the collection centers are receiving post-consumer aluminum cans, cleaning the material and packaging them for subsequent shipment to the Pindamonhangaba (SP) complex, where recycling takes place.
According to the company, these large bales of cans are moved using forklifts, which, from now on, will be electric. Novelis is investing in replacing equipment and will acquire 16 new machines to replace the old, gas-powered ones.
“This investment marks Novelis’ first project in Brazil with a solar energy source. Our objectives of decarbonization and production of increasingly sustainable aluminum are priorities for the company and we are focused on advancing initiatives that bring us closer to achieving these goals”, explained Beatriz Sobreira, senior strategy and sustainability manager at Novelis South America .
In other countries where it operates, the company has also been focusing efforts on carbon neutrality, which includes the implementation of clean energy sources in Novelis plants across the planet.