Difference between revisions of "European Aluminium Association"

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:to secure sustainable growth of aluminium in its markets and to maintain and improve the image of the aluminium industry towards target audiences.
 
:to secure sustainable growth of aluminium in its markets and to maintain and improve the image of the aluminium industry towards target audiences.
  
To this end the EAA have been very active in promoting aluminium (one of the world's most polluting industries) as a 'green metal' with many sustainable applications. This has been achieved through public relations, industry-sponsored research on green-applications, and coordinated communication on the issue throughout the international and national aluminium trade bodies.
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To this end the EAA have been very active in promoting aluminium (one of the world's most polluting industries) as a 'green metal' with many sustainable applications. This has been achieved through public relations, industry-sponsored research on green applications, and coordinated communication on the issue throughout the international and national aluminium trade bodies.
  
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==A major lobbyist in Brussels==
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[[Image:EAA Offices.png‎|thumb|right|EAA Offices at 12 Avenue de Broqueville, shared with Eurometaux and Euromines]]
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The EAA shares offices with the [[European Association of Metals]] or [[Eurometaux]] close to the European Parliament and is one of the larger lobbying bodies in Brussels. The building at 12 Avenue de Broqueville is also shared with the [[European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals]] ([[Euromines]]) and the [[European Carbon and Graphite Association]].<ref>Euromines[www.euromines.org/contact_us.html Contact Us] Accessed 21/02/2012</ref> According to their entry on the European Commission's Transparency Register they spent between €350,000 and €400,000 on lobbying activities in 2010 and €50,000 on a 'media outreach' programme carried out by an un-named PR firm.
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<ref>EC online Transparency Register [http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=9224280267-20 European Aluminium Association entry] Accessed 6/2/12</ref>
  
==Influencing the climate change debate==
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===EAA accused of under-reporting lobbying===
  
The EAA exerts pressure in the EU parliament on climate change policy. In 2008 the EAA denounced the EU's climate change package. [[Patrick de Schrynmakers]], secretary general said:
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In June 2011 the [[Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation]] published a survey of the 40 largest industry lobby groups which revealed that the EAA (alongside a number of large lobbying groups) had under-reported the scale of their influence on the EC Transparency Register. The EAA was named as the fourth of 10 'worst offenders' for under-reporting, claiming to have spent between €100,000 and €150,000 on lobbying in 2009 while employing a total of 17 staff. The paper argues that most of these staff will be engaged in activities which come under the definition of lobbying, and that dividing the declared spend per staff member puts expenditure per member of staff at €8,824, an unrealistically low number.<ref>The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics in the EU (ALTER-EU) June 2011 [http://www.alter-eu.org/fr/press-releases/2011/06/22/lobby-millions-missing-from-the-transparency-register The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups] Accessed 6/2/2012</ref> Interestingly the EAA's 2010 disclosure had quadrupled it's estimated spend to €400,000 despite not altering staff numbers.<ref>EC online Transparency Register [http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=9224280267-20 European Aluminium Association entry] Accessed 6/2/12</ref>
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===Lobbying for exemptions to climate change policy===
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One of the EAA's main concerns in Brussels is climate change policy, which they argue is making European aluminium production costs uncompetitive with the rest of the world. The EAA (alongside other metals trade associations) have repeatedly denounced the [[EU Emissions Trading Scheme]]. In 2008 [[Patrick de Schrynmakers]], secretary general said:
  
 
:Europe will export jobs and import energy intensive products, with no environmental gain  
 
:Europe will export jobs and import energy intensive products, with no environmental gain  
 
:As the legislative process moves forward, EAA exhorts Parliament and member states to protect the sustainability of this important sector of the European economy. <ref>Agence France Presse [http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_MPs_climate_package_vote_brings_little_joy_for_industry_999.html MPs' climate package vote brings little joy for industry] October 7, 2008. Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
 
:As the legislative process moves forward, EAA exhorts Parliament and member states to protect the sustainability of this important sector of the European economy. <ref>Agence France Presse [http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_MPs_climate_package_vote_brings_little_joy_for_industry_999.html MPs' climate package vote brings little joy for industry] October 7, 2008. Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
  
===EU-ETS and Carbon Leakage===
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They have argued that restrictions on the European aluminium industry are likely to lead to 'carbon leakage', as companies move to countries with more lax environmental standards where operation would be cheaper. Their lobbying resulted in aluminium being included as potentially exposed to carbon leakage, and therefore entitled to free emissions certificates (carbon credits) and some subsidies on energy costs. It is proposed by the EU that aluminium will be properly included in the scheme from 2013.<ref>EEA [http://www.eaa.net/en/publications/annual-report/ Annual Report 2010] Accessed 14/05/10</ref> The EAA have also joined with the [[European Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries]] and others to call for compensation for raised costs to electricity in Europe due to carbon taxes. They claim raised electricity prices are unfair, uncompetitive and against the [[Lisbon Treaty]] and [[EU2020]] strategy.<ref>EAA position paper [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=174 European Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries opposes EU unilateral move to -30%] 6th May 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
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Industry exemptions under the EU-ETS have been criticised by a number of environmental groups and researchers for submitting to the wishes of industry, rendering it ineffective as a climate change solution (See page on [[Carbon Trading]]). Larry Lohman discusses how billions of Euro's worth of emissions credits have been given out free to energy intensive industry, while small businesses are forced to comply.<ref>Larry Lohmann, "[http://www.dhf.uu.se/pdffiler/DD2006_48_carbon_trading/carbon_trading_ch_2.pdf Carbon Trading: A critical conversation on Climate Change, Privatisation and Power]", Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Durban Group for Climate Justice and The Corner House, Oct 2006, p. 31, Accessed April 2009</ref> The result is that emissions continue to increase (Britain's emissions increased by 18% between 1992 and 2004 according to Defra).<ref>Roger Harrabin, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7536421.stm 'UK in 'delusion' over emissions'] BBC News, 31st July 2008. Accessed 02/03/10</ref>
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==Greenwashing aluminium==
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[[Image:Green Aluminium EAA.png‎|thumb|right|Interview with EAA Secretary general Patrick de Schrynmakers in SAPA magazine. The depiction of the metal as natural and green is typical of the EAA's greenwash.]]
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The EAA are the key body responsible for promoting aluminium as a 'green metal' which is part of the solution to environmental issues and climate change, and not part of the problem. This has been  central to the aluminium industry's PR tactic worldwide and has been very successful in shaping public opinion on the qualities of the metal. Despite it's status as one of the most energy intensive and polluting metal to produce (with a much higher environmental impact per ton than steel)<ref>Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref> the EAA goes as far as to claim that aluminium's applications make it 'a major contribution to a greener world'<ref>EAA Press release [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ 'Aluminum Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe' June 25, 2009] Accessed 30/04/10</ref> and that 'during its use phase ... aluminium is able to show its impressive contribution to sustainability, more than offsetting the consumption of raw materials and energy needed for its primary production'.<ref>European Aluminium Association [http://www.alueurope.eu/wp-content/.../Sustainability_Report_Sum.pdf Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry] March 2010 p.30. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref> Their argument is based on three applications of aluminium which they claim contribute to sustainability:
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1)Light-weighting of vehicles by using aluminium instead of steel, reducing emissions in the use phase.
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2)Aluminium as part of energy saving and recyclable designs in architecture.
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3)Aluminium packaging to prevent food spoiling and wastage. <ref>European Aluminium Association [http://www.alueurope.eu/wp-content/.../Sustainability_Report_Sum.pdf Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry] March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
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The misleading nature of these arguments is examined in the sections below.
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The EAA advances its claims to sustainability using a variety of lobbying and PR techniques:
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they have joined with the architecture and construction, automotive and packaging industries to promote their aluminium applications as 'green'.
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Extensively funded work on [[Life Cycle Analysis]] of metals, influencing the scientific discourse on how the sustainability of metals is evaluated.
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Funded research institutes such as the [[Wuppertal Institute]] to create sustainability programmes for the industry.
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Coordinated with the global aluminium industry lobby, for example by funding the global aluminium industry's sustainability programme [[Aluminium for Future Generations]] which host a website dedicated to promoting 'green' aluminium. <ref>[http://www.alufuture.org/affg/index.htm Aluminium for Future Generations] EAA. Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
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Lobbying on EU environment and efficiency policy alongside other metals trade associations.
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===Light-weighting vehicles===
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The EAA (along with other aluminium trade associations and lobby groups) promotes the idea that using aluminium (rather than steel) to create lighter cars reduces fuel use over the life of the vehicle therefore reducing overall carbon emissions. 'From an environmental point of view, the EAA
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estimates that, over its whole life-cycle, 1 kg of aluminium introduced in a truck saves more than 20 kg of CO2.' they claim.<ref>European Aluminium Association [http://www.alueurope.eu/wp-content/.../Sustainability_Report_Sum.pdf Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry] p.35. March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
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This claim is misleading for a number of reasons. It is based on a comparison between the weight and recyclability of aluminium and steel, assuming that the truck is used until the end of its life and then fully recycled. But this figure masks the enormous difference in the original carbon and material intensity of producing steel and aluminium. The embodied carbon in steel is 1.8 kg CO2/Kg steel compared to 8.2 kg CO2/kg aluminium.<ref>Hammond, G.P and C.I Jones, 2008 [http://people.bath.ac.uk/cj219/ice00a.pdf  Inventory for Carbon and Energy], University of Bath. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref> But greenhouse gas emissions are not the only environmental impact of metal production and it is when other wastes are taken into account that the intensely polluting nature of aluminium becomes apparent. The [[Wuppertal Institute]] estimates the abiotic intensity (solid waste products) of aluminium production to be 37 kg waste/kg aluminium for primary aluminium compared to only 9.32 kg waste/kg basic oxygen steel, while the gaseous emissions are 10.87 kg airborne emissions/kg aluminium compared to 0.77 kg/kg steel. Water usage is even more striking at 1047 kg water/kg aluminium compared to 81 kg water/kg steel! (see table below)<ref>Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
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<table border="1">
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<caption>Material Intensity of aluminium and steel. Adapted from Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy. 'Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food' 2011 <ref>Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref></caption>
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<tr>
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<th>Type of metal</th>
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<th>Specification</th>
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<th>Abiotic material intensity (kg/kg)</th>
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<th>Water intensity (kg/kg)</th>
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 +
<th>Air intensity (kg/kg)</th>
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 +
</tr>
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 +
<tr>
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 +
<td>aluminium</td>
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<td>Primary aluminium</td>
  
EAA and the [[Aluminium Federation]] as well as other western aluminium trade associations have lobbied national governments and Brussels for exemptions to carbon taxes and restrictions under the [[EU Emissions Trading Scheme]]. They have argued that restrictions on the European aluminium industry are likely to lead to 'carbon leakage', as companies move to countries with more lax environmental standards where operation would be cheaper. Their lobbying resulted in aluminium being included as potentially exposed to carbon leakage, and therefore entitled to free emissions certificates (carbon credits) and some subsidies on energy costs. Their 2010 Annual report states:
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<td>37</td>
  
:The amended EU Greenhouse Gas (GHG)Emission Allowance Trading Scheme (ETS)Directive was formally adopted in April 2009,with inclusion of the aluminium sector from 2013 onwards. The aluminium industry had been engaged for some time in discussions with the [[European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise]] on the inclusion of aluminium in the list of industries identified as exposed to carbon leakage. According to the amended directive, sectors identified as such can obtain free GHG emission allowances up to a specified benchmark for their direct GHG emissions and may receive financial compensation from member states for indirect emissions, i.e. increased electricity costs due to the ETS. The aluminium production chain, namely alumina producers, primary smelters and anode plants, recycling plants, rolling mills and extrusion plants, have now been included in the Commission’s list of sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage.<ref>EEA [http://www.eaa.net/en/publications/annual-report/ Annual Report 2010] Accessed 14/05/10</ref>
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<td>1047.7</td>
  
Industry exemptions under the EU-ETS have been criticised by a number of environmental groups and researchers for submitting to the wishes of industry, rendering it ineffective as a climate change solution (See page on [[Carbon Trading]]). Larry Lohman discusses how billions of Euro's worth of emissions credits have been given out free to energy intensive industry, while small businesses are forced to comply<ref>Larry Lohmann, "[http://www.dhf.uu.se/pdffiler/DD2006_48_carbon_trading/carbon_trading_ch_2.pdf Carbon Trading: A critical conversation on Climate Change, Privatisation and Power]", Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Durban Group for Climate Justice and The Corner House, Oct 2006, p. 31, Accessed April 2009</ref> . The result is that emissions continue to increase (Britain's emissions increased by 18% between 1992 and 2004 according to Defra)<ref>Roger Harrabin, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7536421.stm 'UK in 'delusion' over emissions'] BBC News, 31st July 2008. Accessed 02/03/10</ref> and climate change tipping points are in serious danger of being passed, throwing the planet into unstoppable global heating with it's associated suffering.
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<td>10.87</td>
  
==Greenwashing and propaganda==
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<td></td>
  
[[Image:Green Aluminium EAA.png‎|thumb|right|Interview with EAA Secretary general Patrick de Schrynmakers in SAPA magazine. The depiction of the metal as natural and green is typical of the EAA's greenwash.]]
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</tr>
The EAA have been very active in promoting aluminium as a 'green metal'. Its website aims to counter potential and past critique by environmentalists and contains long sections which espouse the environmental excellence of aluminium companies in mining and production.
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<tr>
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<td></td>
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<td>Secondary (recycled) aluminium</td>
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<td>0.85</td>
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<td>30.74</td>
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<td>0.95</td>
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 +
</tr>
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<tr>
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 +
<td></td>
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<td>Wrought alloy</td>
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<td>35.28</td>
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<td>996.84</td>
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<td>10.37</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td></td>
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<td>Cast alloy</td>
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<td>8.11</td>
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<td>234.13</td>
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<td>2.93</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td></td>
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<td>average</td>
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<td>18.98</td>
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<td>539.21</td>
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<td>5.91</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>steel</td>
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<td>Plate, hot dipped galvanised, basic oxygen steel</td>
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<td>9.32</td>
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<td>81.86</td>
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<td>0.77</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td></td>
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<td>Rebar, wire rod, engineering steel, electric arc furnace route</td>
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<td>1.47</td>
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<td>58.76</td>
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<td>0.52</td>
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</tr>
  
For example, in an EAA press release [[Patrick de Schrynmakers]], Secretary General of the EAA claims:
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<tr>
  
:Today we not only know perfectly what resources it takes to produce aluminium, but our knowledge goes far beyond that. Through structural research & development programs our members help manufacturers of many sorts of consumer products reduce their eco-footprint. Through sustainable design and light-weighting, we are committed to making sure that our products can be easily recycled at the end of their use - a major contribution to a greener world.<ref>EAA Press release [www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ 'Aluminum Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe' June 25, 2009] Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
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<td></td>
  
The EAA supports, and co-runs the global aluminium industry's sustainability programme [[Aluminium for Future Generations]]. They host a website dedicated to promoting 'green' aluminium in Europe <ref>[http://www.alufuture.org/affg/index.htm Aluminium for Future Generations] EAA. Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
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<td>average</td>
  
==Lightweight vehicles==
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<td>7.5</td>
  
The EAA (along with other aluminium trade associations and lobby groups) has been instrumental in pushing the potential use of aluminium to create lighter cars and planes which will therefore be more fuel efficient. This benefit of aluminium has been a central plank in the aluminium industry's climate change strategy, portraying themselves as a clean green metal which will save carbon not create it. Some of the more general critiques of aluminium's green status are made at the [[Aluminium Federation]] page.  
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<td>66.59</td>
  
Dr [[Dietrich Wieser]], [[Alcoa]]'s Director Business Development Ground Transportation Europe spoke at the European Aluminium Congress in Dusseldorf, Germany in 2009, hailing the benefits of aluminium for lightweighting;
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<td>0.53</td>
  
:Aluminum not only offers significant advantages during the use stage of an automobile, but in particular, also in the end-of-life stage...The infinite recyclability of aluminium, together with its high scrap value and the low energy needs during recycling make aluminium lightweight solutions in automotive applications highly desirable. <ref>Business Wire [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Alcoa+Executive+Hails+Aluminum%27s+Ability+for+Lightweight+Automotive...-a0212802403 Alcoa Executive Hails Aluminium's Ability for Lightweight Automotive Design That Increases Fuel Efficiency and Reduces Emissions] Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
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</tr>
  
These assertions fail to mention that aluminium is the most energy intensive metal to produce and has serious climate change implications along the production chain relative to steel (which uses 95% less energy to produce), or that aluminium emissions are predicted to rise year on year. <ref>Das, S. and Padel, F. 2010,'Out of this earth: East India Adivasis and the aluminium cartel' Orient Blackswan </ref>.
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</table>
  
More interestingly, the science of life-cycle analysis used to justify the benefits of aluminium vehicles has been co-opted by the aluminium industry and hides some of the climatic impacts of aluminium production. For example the considerable primary and secondary emissions from hydro-electric dams which much of aluminium smelting relies on are not included <ref>Patrick McCully, International Rivers Report[http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/1349 Fizzy Science: Loosening the Hydro Industry's Grip on Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research] Nov 1st, 2006. Accessed 30/04/10</ref>, nor are the climatic effects of rainforest and semi-tropical forest destruction for bauxite mining.
 
  
In a 2009 EAA position paper on the European Union's [[European Green Cars Initiative]] they demonstrate their intention to work closely with policy makers to secure financial and regulatory benefits for increased aluminium in cars.
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The EAA have exerted continued pressure in Brussels to secure financial and regulatory benefits for increased aluminium in cars as a sustainability measure. A 2009 EAA position paper on the European Union's [[European Green Cars Initiative]] states:
  
 
:The aluminium industry welcomes regulatory initiatives aiming at stimulating the demand for low CO2 emitting cars.
 
:The aluminium industry welcomes regulatory initiatives aiming at stimulating the demand for low CO2 emitting cars.
 
:EAA’s Automotive and Transport Market Group chairman [[Roland Harings]] points out: “Our industry is highly concerned that, in its current shape, the proposal ignores the most straightforward option for emission reductions which is lightweighting, and which can be applied immediately.”
 
:EAA’s Automotive and Transport Market Group chairman [[Roland Harings]] points out: “Our industry is highly concerned that, in its current shape, the proposal ignores the most straightforward option for emission reductions which is lightweighting, and which can be applied immediately.”
:The European Aluminium Association is therefore ready to help legislators amend the proposal towards more technological neutrality. <ref>European Aluminium Association, Position papers [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/position-papers/ EAA position on EC's Regulation proposal to reduce CO2 emissions from Light Commercial Vehicles] 06 November 2009. Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
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:The European Aluminium Association is therefore ready to help legislators amend the proposal towards more technological neutrality. <ref>European Aluminium Association, Position papers [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/position-papers/ EAA position on EC's Regulation proposal to reduce CO2 emissions from Light Commercial Vehicles] 06 November 2009. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
 
 
[[Secat]] (Aluminium research body)'s [[Subodh Das]] has helped make the argument for increasing aluminium content in cars through his published research, in collaboration with the [[Center for Aluminum Technology]] at the University of Kentucky, of which he is director.<ref>Subodh Das, C.A. Ungureanu1,I.S. Jawahir, 2007 'Life-cycle Cost Analysis: Aluminium versus Steel in Passenger Cars'in Aluminium Alloys for Transportation, packaging, Aerospace, and Other Applications. Edited by Subodh K. Das and Weimin Yin, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 2007</ref> He has previously worked for [[ARCO Aluminium]], [[Alcoa]], and sits on the board of the [[Aluminium Association]] and is a fellow to the [[American Society of Metals]], demonstrating that he is far from a neutral scientist.<ref>Aluminium Association News [www.secat.net/news/docs/Aluminium_Association_Board.pdf "Secat’s Subodh Das Elected Member of Aluminium Association Board"] Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
 
  
 
===Pushing aluminium vehicles in India===
 
===Pushing aluminium vehicles in India===
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Due to the latter fact, aluminium companies are well established in India, maintaining close relations with the large hydro lobby and governments pushing this rapid industrial form of 'development'. Das and Padel's research explores the 'neo-colonisation' of India by aluminium companies, and their push to increase per capita demand for aluminium up to Western levels. <ref>Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel' Orient Blackswan. New Delhi.</ref> The EAA are using their well developed 'green cars' argument here to suggest increased aluminium consumption as a climate change policy in India.
 
Due to the latter fact, aluminium companies are well established in India, maintaining close relations with the large hydro lobby and governments pushing this rapid industrial form of 'development'. Das and Padel's research explores the 'neo-colonisation' of India by aluminium companies, and their push to increase per capita demand for aluminium up to Western levels. <ref>Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel' Orient Blackswan. New Delhi.</ref> The EAA are using their well developed 'green cars' argument here to suggest increased aluminium consumption as a climate change policy in India.
  
==Life Cycle Analysis==
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===Green Aluminium Architecture?===
  
With the help of academics like [[Subodh Das]], the aluminium industry has participated in laying the foundations of the science of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) right from the start, working with academia, authorities and the consumer to ensure its success.<ref>EAA Press release '[http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe]' June 25, 2009 Accessed 30/04/10</ref> The EAA, alongside the [[Aluminium Association]] and [[International Aluminium Institute]] have been involved in dominating the aluminium life cycle debate. The industry  contributes to the [[European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment]] which is developed by the [[European Commission]]’s Joint Research Centre. <ref>EAA website, Environment [http://www.eaa.net/en/environment-health-safety/lca/ LCA] accessed 30/04/10</ref>
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The EAA claims that increased use of aluminium in construction is a green measure due to the longevity of the metal (with an expected lifetime of 80 years in buildings), its use in energy efficiency technologies such as solar panels and reflective curtains, and it's recyclability at end of use. The [[International Aluminium Institute]] also hosts a website dedicated to promoting the sustainability of aluminium in construction.<ref>International Aluminium Institute [http://greenbuilding.world-aluminium.org/ Green building website] Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>  
  
[[Patrick de Schrynmakers]] highlights the advantages of EAA's LCA research in creating a green image for aluminium (one of the world's most polluting industries<ref>Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel' Orient Blackswan. New Delhi.</ref>):
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As in the case of light-weighted cars these claims extole the perceived benefits of the use phase ignoring the comparitively polluting and material intense production process of aluminium (see previous section).
  
:After 10 years of dedication, investment and research, we have come up with state of the art validated methodologies, rigorously collected and thoroughly assessed data to show what resources are saved by using lightweight, corrosion resistant and strong aluminium in products such as cars, trucks, aircraft, food packaging, windows, facades, solar panels and other renewable energy equipment. We have the systems in place to evaluate the benefits of recycling the scrap from end-of-life products - especially in terms of emissions. This enables us to prove that the environmental balance of producing, using and recycling aluminium over and over again evens out, ensuring that our material and the products made of it contribute to a sustainable economy and society.<ref>EAA, Press releases [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe] BRUSSELS, June 25, 2009. Accessed 17/05/10</ref>
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The EAA have been lobbying in Brussels to influence regulations on building sustainability. They argue that the end of life recyclability of metals should be included in sustainability evaluations, not just the recycled content of materials used. A 2010 position paper even makes the bizarre argument that we should use up primary metals today, and consider this a contribution to sustainability as they can later be recycled:
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:The metal material has value and should be managed for that value: the material stock should be used today for its maximum utility while at the same time being conserved and recycled to meet the needs of future generations.<ref>European Aluminium Association, Position papers [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/position-papers/ CEN/TC 350 neglects the value of recycled materials] 4th March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>  
  
The language used here is typical of EAA's advanced greenwashing techniques.
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===Packaging reduces waste?===
  
Despite this domination of aluminium life cycle science, the EAA has also been critical of the way LCA has been used in comparing between materials and hence making decisions on their environmental credentials. They note that LCA has become a very important and accepted tool for making political decisions.  
+
The EAA claims that aluminium packaging contributes to sustainability by increasing the shelf life of food, and therefore preventing wastage due to expired food being thrown out. Their 2010 'Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry' report even claims that aluminium-wrapped single use packets of coffee are more sustainable than a large packet due to the risk of water and coffee wastage when too much is made.<ref>European Aluminium Association [http://www.alueurope.eu/wp-content/.../Sustainability_Report_Sum.pdf Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry] March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref> It's section on packaging begins:
  
The EAA's document "Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know", produced for the European Aluminium Industry critiques several political decisions made using LCA which were not in aluminium's favour. Firstly the Danish government's rate of tax on packaging, and secondly The German government's UBA II study into re-usable glass bottles versus aluminium cans. In both cases they claim that the science was inconclusive and the judgement was subjective and value-based on the part of the assessor, and therefore unfair.<ref>European Aluminium Association, 2002 [http://www.alufuture.org/affg/06/06.htm Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know] Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
+
:Aluminium packaging is part of the solution for more sustainability in production and consumption
 +
by delivering quality food, drinks and pharmaceuticals in pristine conditions to the consumer. Aluminium packaging is able to meet today’s challenges of product safety, convenience, marketing
 +
and sustainability whereas the sustainability aspect is becoming increasingly important. And more
 +
than anything else this means preventing spoilage and waste. The ecological performance of
 +
aluminium packaging should be discussed against this background and should be put in the right
 +
perspective. In a world with a rapidly growing population living mainly in cities, less packaging
 +
doesn’t necessarily mean less food wastage. On the other hand resource efficiency can also be
 +
met by increasing the recycling and recovery performances of used aluminium packaging.<ref>European Aluminium Association [http://www.alueurope.eu/wp-content/.../Sustainability_Report_Sum.pdf Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry] p.37. March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012</ref>
  
==Energy usage in smelting==
+
===Life Cycle Analysis===
  
The EAA's document "Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know", produced for the European Aluminium Industry admits that aluminium smelting is energy intensive. However they claim that within Europe, Russia and the 'Western world':
+
The EAA's greenwash arguments for the sustainability of aluminium cars, buildings and packaging are largely based on the science of Life Cycle Analysis which compares the cradle to grave impact of different materials. Since the early days the aluminium industry (particularly the [[Aluminium Association]] and [[International Aluminium Institute]]) has played a key role in developing this system and influencing it's theory, skewing it to benefit the industry. For example the considerable primary and secondary emissions from hydro-electric dams which much of aluminium smelting relies on are not included in the carbon intensity calculations.<ref>Patrick McCully, International Rivers Report[http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/1349 Fizzy Science: Loosening the Hydro Industry's Grip on Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research] Nov 1st, 2006. Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
  
:'more than 50 % of the energy used to produce the aluminium supplied to the European market comes from hydropower (hydroelectricity), a clean and renewable energy source.'<ref>European Aluminium Association, 2002 [http://www.alufuture.org/affg/06/06.htm Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know] Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
+
[[Secat]] (Aluminium research body)'s [[Subodh Das]] has helped make the argument for increasing aluminium content in cars through his published research, in collaboration with the [[Center for Aluminum Technology]] at the University of Kentucky, of which he is director.<ref>Subodh Das, C.A. Ungureanu1,I.S. Jawahir, 2007 'Life-cycle Cost Analysis: Aluminium versus Steel in Passenger Cars'in Aluminium Alloys for Transportation, packaging, Aerospace, and Other Applications. Edited by Subodh K. Das and Weimin Yin, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 2007</ref> He has previously worked for [[ARCO Aluminium]], [[Alcoa]], and sits on the board of the [[Aluminium Association]] and is a fellow to the [[American Society of Metals]], demonstrating that he is far from a neutral scientist.<ref>Aluminium Association News [www.secat.net/news/docs/Aluminium_Association_Board.pdf "Secat’s Subodh Das Elected Member of Aluminium Association Board"] Accessed 30/04/10</ref>
  
There is a large body of evidence that large dams in fact have serious climatic  implications (see Fearnside <ref>PM Fearnside [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=C9CC61079DFD4D7C074E58A469F661E1.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=5935732 Hydroelectric dams in the Brazilian Amazon as sources of 'greenhouse'gases] Environmental conservation, 2009 - Cambridge Univ Press</ref>) as well as being ecologically damaging in many other ways (see McCully <ref>Patrick McCully 'Silenced Rivers: The ecology and politics of large dams' Zed Books, 2001 </ref>). Further, they are not in fact renewable, generally silting up and requiring costly de-commissioning after 50 years or less<ref>Patrick McCully 'Silenced Rivers: The ecology and politics of large dams' Zed Books, 2001 </ref>.
+
With the help of academics like [[Subodh Das]], the aluminium industry has participated in laying the foundations of the science of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) right from the start, working with academia, authorities and the consumer to ensure its success.<ref>EAA Press release '[http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe]' June 25, 2009 Accessed 30/04/10</ref> The industry contributes to the [[European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment]] which is developed by the [[European Commission]]’s Joint Research Centre. <ref>EAA website, Environment [http://www.eaa.net/en/environment-health-safety/lca/ LCA] accessed 30/04/10</ref>
  
Other sources are:
+
[[Patrick de Schrynmakers]] highlights the advantages of EAA's LCA research in creating a green image for aluminium:
  
*Natural gas 5%
+
:After 10 years of dedication, investment and research, we have come up with state of the art validated methodologies, rigorously collected and thoroughly assessed data to show what resources are saved by using lightweight, corrosion resistant and strong aluminium in products such as cars, trucks, aircraft, food packaging, windows, facades, solar panels and other renewable energy equipment. We have the systems in place to evaluate the benefits of recycling the scrap from end-of-life products - especially in terms of emissions. This enables us to prove that the environmental balance of producing, using and recycling aluminium over and over again evens out, ensuring that our material and the products made of it contribute to a sustainable economy and society.<ref>EAA, Press releases [http://www.eaa.net/en/press-room/press-releases/_doc/399/ Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe] BRUSSELS, June 25, 2009. Accessed 17/05/10</ref>
*Crude Oil 3%
 
*Nuclear 15%
 
*Hard Coal 20%
 
*Brown Coal 5%
 
*Hydro-electricity 52% <ref>European Aluminium Association, 2002 [http://www.alufuture.org/affg/06/06.htm Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know] Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
 
  
The document goes on to praise aluminium's recyclability, but admits that:
 
  
:'Nevertheless, whether aluminium is produced from bauxite or from scrap, these operations are not in competition with each other. They are both integrated and necessary parts of the aluminium material cycle.'<ref>European Aluminium Association, 2002 [http://www.alufuture.org/affg/06/06.htm Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know] Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
+
Despite this domination of aluminium life cycle science, the EAA has also been critical of the way LCA has been used in comparing between materials and hence making decisions on their environmental credentials. They note that LCA has become a very important and accepted tool for making political decisions.  
  
If recycling has no effect on the demand for newly mined aluminium then there is virtually no environmental benefit, as emissions and other damage from raw manufacture have not decreased, though those from recycling will have.
+
The EAA's document "Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know", produced for the European Aluminium Industry critiques several political decisions made using LCA which were not in aluminium's favour. Firstly the Danish government's rate of tax on packaging, and secondly The German government's UBA II study into re-usable glass bottles versus aluminium cans. In both cases they claim that the science was inconclusive and the judgement was subjective and value-based on the part of the assessor, and therefore unfair.<ref>European Aluminium Association, 2002 [http://www.alufuture.org/affg/06/06.htm Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know] Accessed 13/05/10</ref>
  
 
==Members==
 
==Members==
Line 102: Line 244:
 
===Primary Aluminium===
 
===Primary Aluminium===
  
*[[RioTinto Alcan]]
+
*[[Rio Tinto Alcan]]
 
*[[Alcoa]]
 
*[[Alcoa]]
 
*[[TRIMET Aluminium]] AG
 
*[[TRIMET Aluminium]] AG
Line 112: Line 254:
 
*[[Aluminium of Greece]] S.A.I.C.
 
*[[Aluminium of Greece]] S.A.I.C.
 
*[[Talum]] d. d.
 
*[[Talum]] d. d.
*[[Alro]] S.A. <ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.eaa.net/en/_page/members/ Members]Accessed 22/04/10</ref>
+
*[[Alro]] S.A. <ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=2707]Accessed 22/01/12</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Downstream aluminium companies===
 +
*[[Kaiser Aluminium]]
 +
*[[Novelis]]
 +
*[[Sapa]]
 +
*[[Aleris International]]
 +
*[[Metra]]
 +
*[[Assan Aluminium]]
 +
*[[AMAG]] Austrian Metals
 +
*[[Constellium]]
 +
*[[Vimetco Extrusion]]<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=2707]Accessed 22/01/12</ref>
  
===Secondary Aluminium===
+
==European Trade Associations==
 +
*[[Organisation of the European Aluminium Recycling Industry]]
 +
*[[European Aluminium Foil Association]]<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=2707]Accessed 22/01/12</ref>
  
*[[Organisation of European Aluminium Refiners and Remelters]]<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.eaa.net/en/_page/members/ Members]Accessed 22/04/10</ref>
+
===National Associations===
 +
*[[Agoria]]
 +
*[[Aluminium Center Belgium]]
 +
*[[Aluminium Federation]] (UK)
 +
*[[Aluminium Danmark]]
 +
*[[Aluminiumriket Sverige]] (Sweden)
 +
*[[Association Suisse de L'Aluminium]] (Switzerland)
 +
*[[Association Francais de l'aluminium]] (France)
 +
*[[Assomet]]
 +
*[[WKO]] (Germany)
 +
*[[GDA]]
 +
*[[Impal]]
 +
*[[TALSAD]] (Turkey)
 +
*[[Associacion Espanola del Aluminio]] (Spain) <ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=2707]Accessed 22/01/12</ref>
  
===Aluminium Foil===
+
==History==
  
*[[European Aluminium Foil Association]]<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.eaa.net/en/_page/members/ Members]Accessed 22/04/10</ref>
+
==Affiliations==
  
 +
The EAA is a member of the [[Centre for European Policy Studies]] (CEPS), the [[American European Community Association]] (AECA), the [[Energy Forum]] and [[Eurometaux]] according to it's entry on the EC Lobbying Transparency Register.<ref>EC online Transparency Register [http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/consultation/displaylobbyist.do?id=9224280267-20 European Aluminium Association entry] Accessed 6/2/12</ref>
  
==History==
+
==Public Relations==
  
==Affiliations==
+
The EAA's major PR campaign [[Aluminium for Future Generations]] was assisted by lobbying and public affairs firm [[GPC International]]. In particular [[Sandy McLean]] (previously with [[Fleishman-Hillard]]) was reported in 1999 to be managing long term strategic media relations for the EAA who were to be her main client at [[GPC International]]. <ref>PR Week, November 26, 1999 [http://www.prweek.com/uk/search/articles/phrase/Fleishman%20Hillard,%20Dean%20Russell/sortby/date/magazine/PRW,PRO/dateYear/1999/dateGroup/all/ BORDER LINES: BRUSSELS - GPC drafts in strategic consultant] Accessed 18/02/2012</ref>
  
 
==Board==
 
==Board==
  
*[[Rudi Huber]] chair
+
*[[Rudi Huber]] (president [[Alcoa]] Europe). Chairman in 2009
 +
*[[Marcos Ramos]] (succeeding president [[Alcoa]] Europe). Chairman in 2010.<ref>European Aluminium Association website. Press releases [http://www.alueurope.eu/?p=450 Novelis’ Tadeu Nardocci, new chairman of the European Aluminium Association] Accessed 23/1/12</ref>
 +
*[[Tadeu Nardocci]] (President of [[Novelis]] Europe). Chairman in 2011<ref>European Aluminium Association website. Press releases [http://www.alueurope.eu/?p=450 Novelis’ Tadeu Nardocci, new chairman of the European Aluminium Association] Accessed 23/1/12</ref>
 +
*[[Christel Bories]] ([[Alcan]]) Chairperson Jan 2007 - Jan 2009<ref>Reuters Business Profiles. Naxtis. [http://uk.reuters.com/business/quotes/officerProfile?symbol=CNAT.PA&officerId=1569871 Christel Bories] Feb 22, 2011. Accessed 08/02/2012</ref>
 +
*[[Gerhard Buddenbaum]] ([[Corus]]) Executive Committee member circa 2004<ref>Salesfuel [http://free.salesfuel.com/CoIntell/CoDetailsPersonnel.aspx?CompanyID=25047 Corus PLC Company Intelligence Report] Accessed 08/02/2012</ref>
 +
*[[Bernt Reitan]] Former director<ref>Business Week. ASA Renewables [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=731532&ticker=AA:US&previousCapId=6245251&previousTitle=RENEWABLE%20ENERGY%20CORP%20ASA Bernt Reitan Biography] Accessed 08/02/2012</ref>
  
 
==Staff==
 
==Staff==
  
 
*[[Patrick de Schrynmakers]]Secretary General since 2000
 
*[[Patrick de Schrynmakers]]Secretary General since 2000
*[[Claude Claire Sönmez]] Public Affairs & Communications Director
+
*[[Claude Claire Sönmez]] Public Affairs & Communications Director (also known as [[Claude Claire Balandier]])<ref>European Parliament Transparency Register [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/lobby/byOrganisation.html?letter=E Lobby group by Organisation] Accessed 18/02/2012</ref>
 
*[[Eirik Nordheim]] Environment, Health and Safety Director
 
*[[Eirik Nordheim]] Environment, Health and Safety Director
 
*[[Maarten Labberton]] Packaging Director
 
*[[Maarten Labberton]] Packaging Director
Line 140: Line 314:
 
*[[Bob Lambrechts]] Statistics & Economics Director
 
*[[Bob Lambrechts]] Statistics & Economics Director
 
*[[Christian Leroy]] Sustainability & LCA - Building & Transport Manager
 
*[[Christian Leroy]] Sustainability & LCA - Building & Transport Manager
*[[Zoltan Precsenyi]] Public Affairs & Communication Manager
+
*[[Erich Cuaz]] Public Affairs & Communication Manager (previously [[Zoltan Precsenyi]]<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.eaa.net/en/_page/contact/ Contact]Accessed 22/04/10</ref>)
 
*[[Sandro Starita]] EHS Manager
 
*[[Sandro Starita]] EHS Manager
 
*[[Pavlos Vatavalis]] Building Technical Manager
 
*[[Pavlos Vatavalis]] Building Technical Manager
 +
*[[Patrick Ragnarsson]] Automotive & Transport Technical Manager
 
*[[Ana Maria Danila]] Sustainability Data Officer
 
*[[Ana Maria Danila]] Sustainability Data Officer
 
*[[Viviane Verbiest]] Administrative Assistant
 
*[[Viviane Verbiest]] Administrative Assistant
 
*[[David Van Heuverswyn]] Assistant Public Affairs, Communication & Packaging
 
*[[David Van Heuverswyn]] Assistant Public Affairs, Communication & Packaging
 
*[[Annie Marthoud]] Assistant EHS, Automotive & Standardisation
 
*[[Annie Marthoud]] Assistant EHS, Automotive & Standardisation
*[[Natacha Kukin]] Assistant Finances & Communications <ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.eaa.net/en/_page/contact/ Contact]Accessed 22/04/10</ref>
+
*[[Natacha Kukin]] Assistant Finances & Communications  
 +
*[[Tadeja Prosen]] Junior Public Affairs and Communications Officer<ref>European Aluminium Assoc website [http://www.alueurope.eu/?page_id=2709 Staff]Accessed 22/01/11</ref>
  
 
===Previous staff===
 
===Previous staff===
  
 
*[[Dick Dermer]]Secretary General up until 2000.<ref>'European Aluminium Association gets new Secretary general'. European Report. November 1, 2000</ref>
 
*[[Dick Dermer]]Secretary General up until 2000.<ref>'European Aluminium Association gets new Secretary general'. European Report. November 1, 2000</ref>
 +
 +
*[[Sarah Clarkson]] left her job as PR manager for the EAA in 2008 to become communications manager for [[Airports Council International Europe]]<ref>PR Week, February 23, 2007 [http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/634698/ Clarkson appointed] Accessed 18/02/2012</ref>, another of the largest Brussels lobby groups<ref>The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics in the EU (ALTER-EU),June 2011 [http://www.alter-eu.org/documents/2011/06/22/the-missing-millions-of-the-lobby-register The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups] Accessed 18/02/2012</ref>.
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
*The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) [http://www.alter-eu.org/documents/2011/06/22/the-missing-millions-of-the-lobby-register The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups], published 22 June 2011. Outlines under-reporting of lobby expenditure by a significant number of groups, including the European Aluminium
+
*The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) [http://www.alter-eu.org/documents/2011/06/22/the-missing-millions-of-the-lobby-register The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups], published 22 June 2011. Outlines under-reporting of lobby expenditure by a significant number of groups, including the European Aluminium Association
Association
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==

Latest revision as of 21:53, 21 February 2012

Mining-alcans-60px.jpg This article is part of the Mining and Metals project of Spinwatch
Global warming.jpg This article is part of the Climate project of Spinwatch.

The European Aluminium Association (EAA) is a lobbying, trade, communications and public image body for the European aluminium industry. It is based in Brussels, close to the European Parliament. Its members are Europe's primary aluminium producers and national aluminium trade associations.

The EAA declares its purpose as;

to secure sustainable growth of aluminium in its markets and to maintain and improve the image of the aluminium industry towards target audiences.

To this end the EAA have been very active in promoting aluminium (one of the world's most polluting industries) as a 'green metal' with many sustainable applications. This has been achieved through public relations, industry-sponsored research on green applications, and coordinated communication on the issue throughout the international and national aluminium trade bodies.

A major lobbyist in Brussels

EAA Offices at 12 Avenue de Broqueville, shared with Eurometaux and Euromines

The EAA shares offices with the European Association of Metals or Eurometaux close to the European Parliament and is one of the larger lobbying bodies in Brussels. The building at 12 Avenue de Broqueville is also shared with the European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals (Euromines) and the European Carbon and Graphite Association.[1] According to their entry on the European Commission's Transparency Register they spent between €350,000 and €400,000 on lobbying activities in 2010 and €50,000 on a 'media outreach' programme carried out by an un-named PR firm. [2]

EAA accused of under-reporting lobbying

In June 2011 the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation published a survey of the 40 largest industry lobby groups which revealed that the EAA (alongside a number of large lobbying groups) had under-reported the scale of their influence on the EC Transparency Register. The EAA was named as the fourth of 10 'worst offenders' for under-reporting, claiming to have spent between €100,000 and €150,000 on lobbying in 2009 while employing a total of 17 staff. The paper argues that most of these staff will be engaged in activities which come under the definition of lobbying, and that dividing the declared spend per staff member puts expenditure per member of staff at €8,824, an unrealistically low number.[3] Interestingly the EAA's 2010 disclosure had quadrupled it's estimated spend to €400,000 despite not altering staff numbers.[4]

Lobbying for exemptions to climate change policy

One of the EAA's main concerns in Brussels is climate change policy, which they argue is making European aluminium production costs uncompetitive with the rest of the world. The EAA (alongside other metals trade associations) have repeatedly denounced the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. In 2008 Patrick de Schrynmakers, secretary general said:

Europe will export jobs and import energy intensive products, with no environmental gain
As the legislative process moves forward, EAA exhorts Parliament and member states to protect the sustainability of this important sector of the European economy. [5]

They have argued that restrictions on the European aluminium industry are likely to lead to 'carbon leakage', as companies move to countries with more lax environmental standards where operation would be cheaper. Their lobbying resulted in aluminium being included as potentially exposed to carbon leakage, and therefore entitled to free emissions certificates (carbon credits) and some subsidies on energy costs. It is proposed by the EU that aluminium will be properly included in the scheme from 2013.[6] The EAA have also joined with the European Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries and others to call for compensation for raised costs to electricity in Europe due to carbon taxes. They claim raised electricity prices are unfair, uncompetitive and against the Lisbon Treaty and EU2020 strategy.[7]

Industry exemptions under the EU-ETS have been criticised by a number of environmental groups and researchers for submitting to the wishes of industry, rendering it ineffective as a climate change solution (See page on Carbon Trading). Larry Lohman discusses how billions of Euro's worth of emissions credits have been given out free to energy intensive industry, while small businesses are forced to comply.[8] The result is that emissions continue to increase (Britain's emissions increased by 18% between 1992 and 2004 according to Defra).[9]

Greenwashing aluminium

Interview with EAA Secretary general Patrick de Schrynmakers in SAPA magazine. The depiction of the metal as natural and green is typical of the EAA's greenwash.

The EAA are the key body responsible for promoting aluminium as a 'green metal' which is part of the solution to environmental issues and climate change, and not part of the problem. This has been central to the aluminium industry's PR tactic worldwide and has been very successful in shaping public opinion on the qualities of the metal. Despite it's status as one of the most energy intensive and polluting metal to produce (with a much higher environmental impact per ton than steel)[10] the EAA goes as far as to claim that aluminium's applications make it 'a major contribution to a greener world'[11] and that 'during its use phase ... aluminium is able to show its impressive contribution to sustainability, more than offsetting the consumption of raw materials and energy needed for its primary production'.[12] Their argument is based on three applications of aluminium which they claim contribute to sustainability:

1)Light-weighting of vehicles by using aluminium instead of steel, reducing emissions in the use phase. 2)Aluminium as part of energy saving and recyclable designs in architecture. 3)Aluminium packaging to prevent food spoiling and wastage. [13] The misleading nature of these arguments is examined in the sections below.

The EAA advances its claims to sustainability using a variety of lobbying and PR techniques: they have joined with the architecture and construction, automotive and packaging industries to promote their aluminium applications as 'green'. Extensively funded work on Life Cycle Analysis of metals, influencing the scientific discourse on how the sustainability of metals is evaluated. Funded research institutes such as the Wuppertal Institute to create sustainability programmes for the industry. Coordinated with the global aluminium industry lobby, for example by funding the global aluminium industry's sustainability programme Aluminium for Future Generations which host a website dedicated to promoting 'green' aluminium. [14] Lobbying on EU environment and efficiency policy alongside other metals trade associations.


Light-weighting vehicles

The EAA (along with other aluminium trade associations and lobby groups) promotes the idea that using aluminium (rather than steel) to create lighter cars reduces fuel use over the life of the vehicle therefore reducing overall carbon emissions. 'From an environmental point of view, the EAA estimates that, over its whole life-cycle, 1 kg of aluminium introduced in a truck saves more than 20 kg of CO2.' they claim.[15]

This claim is misleading for a number of reasons. It is based on a comparison between the weight and recyclability of aluminium and steel, assuming that the truck is used until the end of its life and then fully recycled. But this figure masks the enormous difference in the original carbon and material intensity of producing steel and aluminium. The embodied carbon in steel is 1.8 kg CO2/Kg steel compared to 8.2 kg CO2/kg aluminium.[16] But greenhouse gas emissions are not the only environmental impact of metal production and it is when other wastes are taken into account that the intensely polluting nature of aluminium becomes apparent. The Wuppertal Institute estimates the abiotic intensity (solid waste products) of aluminium production to be 37 kg waste/kg aluminium for primary aluminium compared to only 9.32 kg waste/kg basic oxygen steel, while the gaseous emissions are 10.87 kg airborne emissions/kg aluminium compared to 0.77 kg/kg steel. Water usage is even more striking at 1047 kg water/kg aluminium compared to 81 kg water/kg steel! (see table below)[17]


Material Intensity of aluminium and steel. Adapted from Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy. 'Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food' 2011 [18]
Type of metal Specification Abiotic material intensity (kg/kg) Water intensity (kg/kg) Air intensity (kg/kg)
aluminium Primary aluminium 37 1047.7 10.87
Secondary (recycled) aluminium 0.85 30.74 0.95
Wrought alloy 35.28 996.84 10.37
Cast alloy 8.11 234.13 2.93
average 18.98 539.21 5.91
steel Plate, hot dipped galvanised, basic oxygen steel 9.32 81.86 0.77
Rebar, wire rod, engineering steel, electric arc furnace route 1.47 58.76 0.52
average 7.5 66.59 0.53


The EAA have exerted continued pressure in Brussels to secure financial and regulatory benefits for increased aluminium in cars as a sustainability measure. A 2009 EAA position paper on the European Union's European Green Cars Initiative states:

The aluminium industry welcomes regulatory initiatives aiming at stimulating the demand for low CO2 emitting cars.
EAA’s Automotive and Transport Market Group chairman Roland Harings points out: “Our industry is highly concerned that, in its current shape, the proposal ignores the most straightforward option for emission reductions which is lightweighting, and which can be applied immediately.”
The European Aluminium Association is therefore ready to help legislators amend the proposal towards more technological neutrality. [19]

Pushing aluminium vehicles in India

The EAA, along with the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and The Aluminium Association (USA) have linked up in a campaign to promote 'lightweight' aluminium vehicles in India, a country with one of the fastest growing transport sectors, and most of the world's remaining bauxite. [20]

Due to the latter fact, aluminium companies are well established in India, maintaining close relations with the large hydro lobby and governments pushing this rapid industrial form of 'development'. Das and Padel's research explores the 'neo-colonisation' of India by aluminium companies, and their push to increase per capita demand for aluminium up to Western levels. [21] The EAA are using their well developed 'green cars' argument here to suggest increased aluminium consumption as a climate change policy in India.

Green Aluminium Architecture?

The EAA claims that increased use of aluminium in construction is a green measure due to the longevity of the metal (with an expected lifetime of 80 years in buildings), its use in energy efficiency technologies such as solar panels and reflective curtains, and it's recyclability at end of use. The International Aluminium Institute also hosts a website dedicated to promoting the sustainability of aluminium in construction.[22]

As in the case of light-weighted cars these claims extole the perceived benefits of the use phase ignoring the comparitively polluting and material intense production process of aluminium (see previous section).

The EAA have been lobbying in Brussels to influence regulations on building sustainability. They argue that the end of life recyclability of metals should be included in sustainability evaluations, not just the recycled content of materials used. A 2010 position paper even makes the bizarre argument that we should use up primary metals today, and consider this a contribution to sustainability as they can later be recycled:

The metal material has value and should be managed for that value: the material stock should be used today for its maximum utility while at the same time being conserved and recycled to meet the needs of future generations.[23]

Packaging reduces waste?

The EAA claims that aluminium packaging contributes to sustainability by increasing the shelf life of food, and therefore preventing wastage due to expired food being thrown out. Their 2010 'Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry' report even claims that aluminium-wrapped single use packets of coffee are more sustainable than a large packet due to the risk of water and coffee wastage when too much is made.[24] It's section on packaging begins:

Aluminium packaging is part of the solution for more sustainability in production and consumption

by delivering quality food, drinks and pharmaceuticals in pristine conditions to the consumer. Aluminium packaging is able to meet today’s challenges of product safety, convenience, marketing and sustainability whereas the sustainability aspect is becoming increasingly important. And more than anything else this means preventing spoilage and waste. The ecological performance of aluminium packaging should be discussed against this background and should be put in the right perspective. In a world with a rapidly growing population living mainly in cities, less packaging doesn’t necessarily mean less food wastage. On the other hand resource efficiency can also be met by increasing the recycling and recovery performances of used aluminium packaging.[25]

Life Cycle Analysis

The EAA's greenwash arguments for the sustainability of aluminium cars, buildings and packaging are largely based on the science of Life Cycle Analysis which compares the cradle to grave impact of different materials. Since the early days the aluminium industry (particularly the Aluminium Association and International Aluminium Institute) has played a key role in developing this system and influencing it's theory, skewing it to benefit the industry. For example the considerable primary and secondary emissions from hydro-electric dams which much of aluminium smelting relies on are not included in the carbon intensity calculations.[26]

Secat (Aluminium research body)'s Subodh Das has helped make the argument for increasing aluminium content in cars through his published research, in collaboration with the Center for Aluminum Technology at the University of Kentucky, of which he is director.[27] He has previously worked for ARCO Aluminium, Alcoa, and sits on the board of the Aluminium Association and is a fellow to the American Society of Metals, demonstrating that he is far from a neutral scientist.[28]

With the help of academics like Subodh Das, the aluminium industry has participated in laying the foundations of the science of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) right from the start, working with academia, authorities and the consumer to ensure its success.[29] The industry contributes to the European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment which is developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. [30]

Patrick de Schrynmakers highlights the advantages of EAA's LCA research in creating a green image for aluminium:

After 10 years of dedication, investment and research, we have come up with state of the art validated methodologies, rigorously collected and thoroughly assessed data to show what resources are saved by using lightweight, corrosion resistant and strong aluminium in products such as cars, trucks, aircraft, food packaging, windows, facades, solar panels and other renewable energy equipment. We have the systems in place to evaluate the benefits of recycling the scrap from end-of-life products - especially in terms of emissions. This enables us to prove that the environmental balance of producing, using and recycling aluminium over and over again evens out, ensuring that our material and the products made of it contribute to a sustainable economy and society.[31]


Despite this domination of aluminium life cycle science, the EAA has also been critical of the way LCA has been used in comparing between materials and hence making decisions on their environmental credentials. They note that LCA has become a very important and accepted tool for making political decisions.

The EAA's document "Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know", produced for the European Aluminium Industry critiques several political decisions made using LCA which were not in aluminium's favour. Firstly the Danish government's rate of tax on packaging, and secondly The German government's UBA II study into re-usable glass bottles versus aluminium cans. In both cases they claim that the science was inconclusive and the judgement was subjective and value-based on the part of the assessor, and therefore unfair.[32]

Members

Primary Aluminium

Downstream aluminium companies

European Trade Associations

National Associations

History

Affiliations

The EAA is a member of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), the American European Community Association (AECA), the Energy Forum and Eurometaux according to it's entry on the EC Lobbying Transparency Register.[37]

Public Relations

The EAA's major PR campaign Aluminium for Future Generations was assisted by lobbying and public affairs firm GPC International. In particular Sandy McLean (previously with Fleishman-Hillard) was reported in 1999 to be managing long term strategic media relations for the EAA who were to be her main client at GPC International. [38]

Board

Staff

Previous staff

Resources

Notes

  1. Euromines[www.euromines.org/contact_us.html Contact Us] Accessed 21/02/2012
  2. EC online Transparency Register European Aluminium Association entry Accessed 6/2/12
  3. The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics in the EU (ALTER-EU) June 2011 The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups Accessed 6/2/2012
  4. EC online Transparency Register European Aluminium Association entry Accessed 6/2/12
  5. Agence France Presse MPs' climate package vote brings little joy for industry October 7, 2008. Accessed 30/04/10
  6. EEA Annual Report 2010 Accessed 14/05/10
  7. EAA position paper European Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries opposes EU unilateral move to -30% 6th May 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  8. Larry Lohmann, "Carbon Trading: A critical conversation on Climate Change, Privatisation and Power", Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Durban Group for Climate Justice and The Corner House, Oct 2006, p. 31, Accessed April 2009
  9. Roger Harrabin, 'UK in 'delusion' over emissions' BBC News, 31st July 2008. Accessed 02/03/10
  10. Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012
  11. EAA Press release 'Aluminum Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe' June 25, 2009 Accessed 30/04/10
  12. European Aluminium Association Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry March 2010 p.30. Accessed 03/02/2012
  13. European Aluminium Association Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  14. Aluminium for Future Generations EAA. Accessed 13/05/10
  15. European Aluminium Association Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry p.35. March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  16. Hammond, G.P and C.I Jones, 2008 Inventory for Carbon and Energy, University of Bath. Accessed 03/02/2012
  17. Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012
  18. Wuppertal Intstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy [www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx.../MIT_2011.pdf Material Intensity of materials, fuels, transport services, food] 14th July, 2011. Accessed 03/02/2012
  19. European Aluminium Association, Position papers EAA position on EC's Regulation proposal to reduce CO2 emissions from Light Commercial Vehicles 06 November 2009. Accessed 03/02/2012
  20. 'Aluminium Co's Eye Auto Industry for a Major Push' Nov 5th 2008. Financial express. Accessed 13/05/10
  21. Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2010 'Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel' Orient Blackswan. New Delhi.
  22. International Aluminium Institute Green building website Accessed 03/02/2012
  23. European Aluminium Association, Position papers CEN/TC 350 neglects the value of recycled materials 4th March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  24. European Aluminium Association Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  25. European Aluminium Association Sustainability of the European Aluminium Industry p.37. March 2010. Accessed 03/02/2012
  26. Patrick McCully, International Rivers ReportFizzy Science: Loosening the Hydro Industry's Grip on Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Nov 1st, 2006. Accessed 30/04/10
  27. Subodh Das, C.A. Ungureanu1,I.S. Jawahir, 2007 'Life-cycle Cost Analysis: Aluminium versus Steel in Passenger Cars'in Aluminium Alloys for Transportation, packaging, Aerospace, and Other Applications. Edited by Subodh K. Das and Weimin Yin, The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 2007
  28. Aluminium Association News [www.secat.net/news/docs/Aluminium_Association_Board.pdf "Secat’s Subodh Das Elected Member of Aluminium Association Board"] Accessed 30/04/10
  29. EAA Press release 'Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe' June 25, 2009 Accessed 30/04/10
  30. EAA website, Environment LCA accessed 30/04/10
  31. EAA, Press releases Aluminium Industry Continues to Add Value to a Greener Europe BRUSSELS, June 25, 2009. Accessed 17/05/10
  32. European Aluminium Association, 2002 Life Cycle Assessment and Aluminium: What you need to know Accessed 13/05/10
  33. European Aluminium Assoc website [1]Accessed 22/01/12
  34. European Aluminium Assoc website [2]Accessed 22/01/12
  35. European Aluminium Assoc website [3]Accessed 22/01/12
  36. European Aluminium Assoc website [4]Accessed 22/01/12
  37. EC online Transparency Register European Aluminium Association entry Accessed 6/2/12
  38. PR Week, November 26, 1999 BORDER LINES: BRUSSELS - GPC drafts in strategic consultant Accessed 18/02/2012
  39. European Aluminium Association website. Press releases Novelis’ Tadeu Nardocci, new chairman of the European Aluminium Association Accessed 23/1/12
  40. European Aluminium Association website. Press releases Novelis’ Tadeu Nardocci, new chairman of the European Aluminium Association Accessed 23/1/12
  41. Reuters Business Profiles. Naxtis. Christel Bories Feb 22, 2011. Accessed 08/02/2012
  42. Salesfuel Corus PLC Company Intelligence Report Accessed 08/02/2012
  43. Business Week. ASA Renewables Bernt Reitan Biography Accessed 08/02/2012
  44. European Parliament Transparency Register Lobby group by Organisation Accessed 18/02/2012
  45. European Aluminium Assoc website ContactAccessed 22/04/10
  46. European Aluminium Assoc website StaffAccessed 22/01/11
  47. 'European Aluminium Association gets new Secretary general'. European Report. November 1, 2000
  48. PR Week, February 23, 2007 Clarkson appointed Accessed 18/02/2012
  49. The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics in the EU (ALTER-EU),June 2011 The missing millions – how the new lobby register needs to tackle the 'under-reporting' by industry lobby groups Accessed 18/02/2012