Mining firms such as Alcoa and Rio Tinto are attempting to find more environmentally friendly ways of producing metal as a result of pressure from customers, including Apple and Audi, as well as a desire to maintain demand for materials that generate most of their profit. The mining industry is also trying to reduce its carbon footprint, which has been blamed by some environmentalists for contributing to global warming. The joint Alcoa-Rio Tinto Elysis project aims to create the first carbon-free aluminium smelters, while Sweden’s Hybrit technology hopes to replace coaking coal with hydrogen during steel manufacture.
Mining firms such as Alcoa and Rio Tinto are attempting to find more environmentally friendly ways of producing metal as a result of pressure from customers, including Apple and Audi, as well as a desire to maintain demand for materials that generate most of their profit. Manufacturing aluminium, iron and steel accounts for a combined 30% of direct industrial CO2 emissions. The joint Alcoa-Rio Tinto Elysis project aims to create the first carbon-free aluminium smelters, while Sweden’s Hybrit technology hopes to replace coaking coal with hydrogen during steel manufacture.