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MECLA Working
Group 5c - Aluminium

Working Group 5c – Aluminium (WG5c) focuses on better understanding the demand side needs and supply side requirements of the aluminium industry. The Chair of WG5c is Jeff Morgan, Principal Architect at Hassell.

WG5c is building capacity in the aluminium industry through engagement along the aluminium supply chain, building a roadmap to accelerate supply side, developing better understandings of embodied carbon statistics, and creating knowledge assets for the industry to refer to.

Low Emissions Aluminium Brochure

In 2022 WG5c produced a Low Emissions Aluminium brochure, raising awareness of the issues and the opportunities for a low emissions aluminium future in Australia’s development and construction industry.

Aluminium Deep Dives with industry

WG5c has also run a number of Aluminium Deep Dives with different aspects of industry on low carbon aluminium opportunities and challenges and get feedback on WG5c progress so far. this includes engagement with Facade Contractors & Head Contractors, Consultants, and Developers & Owners. You can rewatch on the MECLA youtube channel:

Low Carbon Aluminium Specification Guide

WG5c has recently launched a guide on specifying low carbon aluminium for industry to use. This document includes global and Australian average emissions for aluminium and a recommended target range, an explanation of the ASI system and examples of how to incorporate low carbon aluminium clauses.

Top 5 learnings

WG5c have outlined the key learnings from their engagement with the aluminium value chain in a summary document available below. 

Spotlight events

WG5c have hosted two MECLA Spotlights on Aluminium so far. The first featured a collection of industry perspectives discussing how sustainability can add value to Australia’s resources, how the industry has evolved over the last 12 years, the role of circular economy in aluminium, responsible sourcing, and more. The second Spotlight on Aluminium focused on the aluminium and secondary aluminium sector, and the challenges and opportunities for the sector including support for local manufacturing and demonstrating demand for recylced aluminium.

You can also watch a short video describing the progress made in WG5c below:

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