Assan Aluminium Industry and Trade Inc.
November, 2026

Assan Alüminyum develops alloys with lower carbon footprint

Click to view the news
View
Assan Alüminyum develops alloys with lower carbon footprint

Assan Alüminyum aims to cut its products’ carbon footprint through higher recycled content, but sourcing suitable scrap remains a challenge.

Higher recycled content, raw materials with lower emissions and renewable energy are intended to help Assan Alüminyum reach net zero by 2050. Speaking at the ALUMINIUM trade fair in Düsseldorf on 8 October 2026, Uğur Bozpınar and Derin Akersoy explained how the company is linking decarbonisation with the development of its alloy portfolio. Changing requirements in the automotive and packaging industries are also shaping this work.

Carbon targets through to 2050

According to Bozpınar, the company’s published decarbonisation roadmap sets targets of seven tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of aluminium by 2030 and three tonnes by 2035, with net zero targeted for 2050.

Raw material sourcing has a significant role to play. According to Bozpınar, primary aluminium raw materials account for 95 per cent of the embedded emissions in flat rolled aluminium purchases and processes. Reducing their carbon footprint therefore has a greater effect on the product footprint than internal measures alone, he explains. Assan Alüminyum also owns a hydroelectric power plant and a solar power plant. Bozpınar says these were acquired to offset market-based Scope 2 emissions, with International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) obtained for their generation and procured otherwise. The company processes internal and external scrap at its in-house recycling facility.

Alloys for higher recycled content

At the exhibition, Assan Alüminyum presented alloys 3423 and 6005A as examples of materials that, according to the company, can incorporate substantially more recycled material than conventional alloys based predominantly on primary aluminium. Bozpınar says Assan Alüminyum is also working on an aluminium alloy in the 8000 series for foil products. The higher non-primary aluminium content is intended to reduce the products’ carbon emissions.

Existing applications are mainly in construction, according to Bozpınar. The 8000-series alloy under development is intended for packaging applications. He explains that the recycled content figure may be quite variable based on the range of products and industries the company serves.

In the automotive sector, Akersoy describes cooperation with tier-one suppliers with their vehicle manufacturers. Assan Alüminyum aims to align with their sustainability requirements and vision.

Suitable scrap remains difficult to source

Increasing recycled content depends on securing suitable feedstock. Bozpınar identifies difficulties here: as production grows, scrap availability is not keeping pace. “It’s not always possible to find the right amount of non-contaminated scrap either,” he says. The company is therefore seeking for and creating alternatives sources.

Packaging presents further challenges in separating materials. Akersoy points to aluminium combined with paper, polyethylene or other layers. Separating these materials and returning the aluminium to the recycling loop has its challenges, he says. The industry is consequently focusing on sorting flexible packaging. Bozpınar adds that recovery also depends on collection systems and the regulatory framework at national and municipal level.

When assessing packaging, Bozpınar argues that its protective function should be considered alongside recycling. Extending the shelf life of food can reduce food waste and, in turn, the water use associated with food production, he says.

Electric vehicles bring new requirements

Product development also aims to address applications that are becoming more important as the automotive industry changes. According to Bozpınar, Assan Alüminyum already supplies material for heat shields around exhaust systems. Electric vehicles bring applications such as battery cases into focus.

Alongside aluminium’s light weight, Bozpınar highlights its thermal conductivity, which he describes as important for heat exchangers and heat distribution in battery cases. Meeting the requirements of these applications call for further development work.

Reporting and security of supply

Discussing sustainability reporting, Bozpınar points to ASI certification, CDP assessments and environmental product declarations that Assan Alüminyum shares with its customers. He says the company has scored above the industry average in two consecutive CDP assessments. During the conversation, the term “low carbon” is also preferred to the broader description “green”.

Alongside decarbonisation, Assan Alüminyum is working to secure its supply chains. The company has acquired and opened a previously idle plant in Fairmont, West Virginia, in the United States. According to Bozpınar, the opening ceremony took place in mid-September. Staff are being hired and rehired. Production has already begun and the company is already delivering orders received for the last quarter of 2026.

Bozpınar, who has been Chief Commercial Officer since 15 September, is responsible for strategy, marketing, sales and supply chain functions. He links the company’s further development to a specific aim: making aluminium supply to customers more flexible and faster. By Philipp Lubos

Other News
The sustainable future of aluminium
September, 2026
The sustainable future of aluminium
Decarbonisation, circularity, resilience
August, 2026
Decarbonisation, circularity, resilience
Evolving tariff structures and trade measures are increasingly shaping global trade dynamics
April, 2026
Evolving tariff structures and trade measures are increasingly shaping global trade dynamics
Aluminium strategy: energy, recycling, resilience
April, 2026
Aluminium strategy: energy, recycling, resilience