As of 2003, all new sites (acquired or commissioned by Alcan) are required to fulfill certification within two years. By the end of 2006, Alcan had met its objective of 100% certification for all sites acquired prior to 2004.
2006 marked Alcan's 11th consecutive year without a major environmental event. In 2006, Alcan refined its definition of environmental events in order to increase its ability to understand the environmental impacts of the different classifications of events. The new definitions for environmental events make previous periods incomparable with 2006.
Significant/moderate events are defined as a one time on site or off site spill/release resulting in insignificant/no damage or limited area/temporary damage to people, wildlife, or habitat. Total restoration occurs in a short-medium period of time. 96% of the events reported in 2006 were classified as moderate events.
New definitions for environmental events make previous periods incomparable with 2006.
The reduction in 2005 emissions is due to changes in asset mix, related to the divestiture of some Primary Metal sites.
The significant decrease in the 2005 rate is due mainly to the closure of an older smelting facility.
The 2005 reduction in absolute emissions shown here include reductions due to changes in asset mix, reflecting the closure and divestiture of some Primary Metal sites.
The decrease from 2004 to 2005 is due to the spin-off of Novelis and the closure of an older Primary Metal facility.
Alcan continues to make progress in the reduction of PAH emissions. A significant proportion of the decrease in rate in 2005 was related to the above-mentioned spin-off and closure.
The reduction in SO2 emissions is primarily related to changes in asset mix, including the spin-off of Novelis and the closure or divestiture of Primary Metal and Bauxite and Alumina sites. Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with updated information obtained during the current period.
Absolute emissions having decreased, the increase in the primary metal rate in 2006 is due to fluctuations in production year-over-year. 2004 and 2005 rates for S02 per tonne of alumina hydrate have been restated due to a correction in production data.
Gains from abatement system installations are offset by acquisitions of facilities without abatement systems. Reductions of close to 1,900 tonnes were achieved thanks to the abatement systems installed in 2005. Certain comparative information has been restated to conform with updated information obtained during the current period.
The increase in rate from 2005 to 2006 is due to a small increase in absolute VOC emissions in 2006, as well as a small decrease in Packaging sales in 2006.
Alcan's hazardous waste figures have been restated for 2005 to include an additional Alcan site previously not reported due to finalisation of Novelis spin-off details during 2006. Changes year-over-year are a result of changes in asset mix. Based on current holdings, from 2005 to 2006, Alcan's hazardous waste generation is stable. Alcan has succeeded in diverting 69% of its hazardous waste to recycling.
Increased sales have resulted in the decrease in rates seen from 2005 to 2006, given the stability of absolute emissions.
Reductions in non-hazardous waste from 2004 to 2005, based on real holdings, are due to changes in asset mix, including the spin-off of Novelis and the closure or divestiture of Primary Metal and Bauxite and Alumina sites.
Changes in the rate are driven primarily by increased sales in 2006 as compared to 2005.
The 2005 reduction in residue generation is related to the divestiture of Bauxite and Alumina sites. Alcan's residue generation decreased slightly by 2% from 2005 to 2006.
2004 and 2005 rates have been restated due to a correction in production data. The increase noted in 2006 was due to weather-related production stoppages at a major operation in Australia, decreasing the amount of alumina hydrate produced.
SPL generation is a function of a site's potlining life cycle, which results in fluctuations year-over-year.
The rate increase is due to the quantity of SPL generated in 2006 versus 2005, as hot metal production was relatively stable in 2005 and 2006.
