Rio Tinto, Marubeni Strengthen Aluminium Supply Chain
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto, a global mining company, and Marubeni Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate involved in trading and other businesses, have reached their first sale agreement under a new Collaboration Agreement. This partnership aims to ensure a dependable and sustainable supply of Rio Tinto's Responsible Aluminium products to downstream manufacturers in Japan.
As part of the first sale agreement, a major Japanese motorcycle manufacturer purchased a batch of Rio Tinto's RenewAl high-purity aluminium, produced at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) using renewable energy. The Japanese company is committed to reducing carbon emissions in its supply chains and manufacturing processes.
This agreement is the first in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Its main objective is to provide downstream industries with a straightforward and comprehensive approach to achieving their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and requirements. These may include reducing carbon footprints, disclosing lifecycle assessments (LCA), and responsible sourcing. Additionally, the agreement will help ensure a secure and reliable long-term supply of Rio Tinto's products, which is especially critical during increasing supply-chain risks.
The partnership will bring together Rio Tinto's Responsible Aluminium product offerings, including RenewAl (the industry's first certified low-carbon aluminium), Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certified aluminium and the digital traceability platform START. Marubeni's extensive trading network, commercial capabilities, and carbon credit mechanism, Neutr-Al, will also be available as part of the collaboration. This combination of resources will allow the partners to offer a comprehensive range of environmentally sustainable products and services to downstream manufacturers.
Tolga Egrilmezer, Rio Tinto Head of Sales & Marketing, said, “We are excited to be a part of the first producer-trading house marketing partnership focused on delivering sustainability throughout the aluminium supply chain.
“Consumers want to know more about the products they buy and be assured that they have been produced responsibly and sustainably. By working with partners like Marubeni, we can help our downstream customers in the aluminium value chain meet this growing consumer demand while at the same time advancing our commitment to decarbonising our product value chains.”
Marubeni Chief Operating Officer, Metals & Mineral Resources Division Daisuke Tsuchiya said, “Marubeni's Mid-Term Management Strategy GC 2024 positions green strategy as a fundamental platform to enhance corporate value. Aluminium-related business is an area of focus within this green strategy to enable a transition to a decarbonised society. Through this collaboration, Marubeni will contribute to creating a decarbonised society by supplying responsible aluminium, produced by Rio Tinto, to various customers through Marubeni’s interface, which has been built up over through the company's many years of aluminium trading.”
Source: Rio Tinto
