KONMA Appoints Choi Min-young as Inaugural Aluminum Chair

Korea Nonferrous Metals Association (KONMA) has announced the appointment of Choi Min-young, Director of Government Affairs of Novelis Korea, as the first Chairman of the newly created Aluminum Committee. This leadership designation is an essential move towards increased industry cooperation amid the aluminum industry of Korea that is concentrating efforts on sustainability and innovation.

Founded this year, the Aluminum Committee was formed in order to provide a platform where the common interests of stakeholders in the aluminum industry can be discussed, foster knowledge exchange, and develop policies aimed at promoting responsible growth of the industry. The aim of the committee is to bolster the resilience and competitiveness of the aluminum industry in Korea.

As per Novelis, The Aluminum Committee will be instrumental in the formation of policies by the government, building the resilience of the supply chains, and the adaptation of the industry to changing trade rules and environmental regulations across the globe. Additionally, the committee will endeavor to promote the use of recycled aluminum through the implementation of circular economy principles within the industry.

Key Highlights:

• Novelis Korea's Choi Min-young appointed inaugural Chair of KONMA Aluminum Committee
• New KONMA committee to drive aluminum policy, sustainability, and recycling initiatives
• Committee targets stronger recycling systems and a circular aluminum economy in Korea

Aluminum has come into prominence as a strategic material in the transition towards a low-carbon economy in the world today. The characteristics of being light, sturdy, and endlessly recyclable have made aluminum a crucial material for carbon neutrality, energy transition, next-gen mobility, and advanced manufacturing. It is expected that there will be an increased demand for aluminum in several sectors, such as electric vehicles, defense, aerospace, rechargeable batteries, construction, and renewable energy infrastructure, among others.

One of the most sustainable aspects of aluminum is that it can be recycled repeatedly without any loss in quality. In comparison with the production of aluminum from scratch, recycling aluminum requires only around 5% of the energy used. The carbon footprint of recycling aluminum is reduced drastically by using this process.

Although Korea boasts an excellent aluminum beverage can collection rate of nearly 97 percent—considered one of the highest in the world—Korea's aluminum can-to-can recycling rate is rather low at only 37 percent, as stated by Novelis. To overcome this challenge, the recently formed Aluminum Committee intends to lobby for policies that encourage good quality recycling systems, efficient resource circulation, and closed-loop recycling facilities. These strategies will help in increasing the benefits of recycling aluminum and ensure that there is a more sustainable aluminum industry in Korea.

Novelis is a part of Hindalco Industries Limited, a leading company in aluminium and copper and the metals business of the multinational corporation, the Aditya Birla Group which has its headquarters in Mumbai, India. The company is the leading producer of low-carbon flat-rolled aluminum products and the world’s largest aluminum recycler.