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Environment
Alcoa has an excellent track record in environmental management and we will continue to focus on developing better ways to ensure a sustainable future. We are committed to using less resources, reducing our emissions and wastes and reusing and recycling materials.
During the recycling process it takes only about 5% of the original energy requirement to re-manufacture an aluminium ingot, making aluminium recycling both economically viable and environmentally friendly.
Alcoa believes that available evidence indicates greenhouse gas emissions from human activities affect climate and it is an issue of vital importance which requires action. On a worldwide basis, Alcoa has committed to reducing our direct global greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2010 from a base year of 1990. This is an entirely voluntary undertaking.
Waste minimisation and cleaner production programs at all our operations keep raw materials in an operating system and out of the waste stream thereby helping to reduce costs. Cleaner production goals include enhancing by-product reuse through bauxite residue modifications, reuse of bauxite residue and reducing land filling of solid waste. Alcoa's research centres invest $20 million annually in support of efficient, cleaner production initiatives.
We are committed to reducing refinery air emissions, conserving water and continuing our award winning forest restoration work. Our conservation and restoration work is showcased in Anglesea Heath which is one of the most diverse and spectacular areas for flora, scenic landscape and wildlife communities in Victoria, and our regrowth jarrah forest south of Perth.
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