In 2000 to 2001, Alcan undertook a comprehensive review of its stakeholder engagement efforts. The results confirmed that respect for stakeholder concerns is deeply rooted in the Alcan culture and that the Company's stakeholder engagement efforts have been successful in developing a mutual understanding of interests and goals.

Alcan actively supports the involvement of our employees in community undertakings and we have a long history of supporting community projects at the corporate, business group and facility level. From restoring historical monuments in Brazil to our involvement and support of Habitat for Humanity projects, community investment is part of the Alcan culture.

More than ten years ago in Quebec, we launched a program with a community elementary school, École Saint-Pierre, to promote the concept of recycling and entrepreneurship. Today, this program, the Micro-Business Network, is international in scope, reaching over 32,000 young people every year.

Examples of program initiatives include:

  • Encouraging children to gather aluminum cans as a means of generating funds for school projects;
  • Recycling old newspapers to create a host of items such as greeting cards, piggy banks, etc., which can be sold to family, friends and local businesses;
  • Planting trees and gardens to beautify surroundings.

The activities are structured as part of a business plan and the students operate their micro-business as a company with planning, production and marketing teams. Alcan's support varies with the individual program, but generally includes assistance with program development and publication of educational support material.


For example, in the health and science area, Alcan annually contributes to a Brazilian agency caring for special needs children through initiatives such as Project Smiles, where free dental care is provided to over 3,500 children in the community of Ouro Preto.

In Canada, the Company participates in the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy's Imagine program where at least one percent of our Canadian revenues before tax is committed to various community investment projects. This included a three-year commitment (through to 2001) to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) where we provided assistance for endangered species. We also support the WWF in Brazil by assisting with the publishing and dissemination of environmental educational information.

Sponsoring a world-class athlete is not an everyday occurrence for Alcan. Chantal Petitclerc is an international wheelchair athlete who has participated at the Paralympics in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney—where she won 11 medals. She also competed in the 2000 and 1996 Olympic Games where the 800-metre wheelchair race was held as a demonstration sport. Alcan has sponsored Chantal since 1998 and, in 2001, we extended our sponsorship commitment until 2005, supporting her efforts to compete at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.


Alcan is well known for supporting educational research and we provide funding to a number of world-class research facilities, including University of Toronto, University of Montreal, the Institute of Basic Research in New York, and INSERM* in France. Alcan also coordinates (and provides funding with other industry partners) the Global Health Research Initiative of the International Aluminium Institute. This helps fund health research on aluminum-related topics by recognized centres of expertise. As part of Alcan's funding assistance, we stipulate that the results of such research be published in recognized scientific journals. We have also supported external researchers as they conduct studies within our facilities in areas related to employee health such as bladder cancer, smoking and respiratory illnesses. Results of this internal research include enhanced work controls, better ventilation systems, improved personal protective equipment and the use of new materials.

*Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale

In Ghana, where we have a joint-venture bauxite operation, we invest $500,000 a year in social initiatives and community development projects as determined by a stakeholder panel that includes Alcan, our partners, and community and government representatives.

In Orissa, India, as a minority shareholder in a bauxite and alumina project, Alcan has been and continues to work with its joint-venture partners and local communities as well as interested stakeholders to resolve concerns and outstanding issues. Alcan remains committed to ensuring that any project going forward will meet the test of broad community support and environmental and investment criteria required to ensure a sustainable undertaking.


On the cultural front, we provide support for the performing arts and sports, we assume leadership roles in international industry associations, and we encourage Alcan employees to participate in activities that enhance community sustainability.

Worldwide, Alcan's contributions to community investment projects such as those outlined above are estimated at over $7 million for 2001.

Our Company-wide community investment and sponsorship objective is to participate in the communities where we operate through financial, charitable and cooperative efforts. In reviewing funding requests, we attempt to achieve a balance both geographically and by business sector according to our business presence. Over the years, Alcan support has included health research, education, environment, sports, arts and culture, First Nation events and other community-specific programs.