BOAL EXTRUSION ABOUT THE ROLE OF ALUMINIUM
As part of a sector-wide initiative led by the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) and developed in collaboration with Content With Purpose (CWP), BOAL Extrusion UK is helping to shape the national conversation around aluminium’s role in sustainability, supply resilience and industrial strategy. In a recent campaign video, Managing Director Emma Swann offers a clear and compelling perspective on one of the industry’s most urgent challenges: the retention and reuse of aluminium scrap within the UK.
Scrap: A strategic resource, not just a commodity
Swann opens with a stark reminder: aluminium production contributes around 2% of global CO₂ emissions. The use of recycled aluminium offers a strategic opportunity to reduce that footprint, but only if the UK retains and reuses its own scrap.
Currently, over 500,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap are exported from the UK annually, while around 100,000 tonnes are imported. This trading imbalance reflects the economic appeal of exporting high-value scrap, which commands strong prices on the open market. Yet Swann warns that this dynamic undermines the UK’s ability to build a resilient, low-carbon supply chain.
“It makes sense to keep as much scrap in the UK onshore as possible,” she explains, especially as aluminium now tops NATO’s list of critical materials - a designation that gains urgency amid rising global defence spending.
From monitoring to innovation: A two-pronged approach
Swann outlines two key actions to address the issue. First, the UK must design and implement a robust monitoring system to track scrap flows - including volumes, grades, destinations and origins. This data will be essential for shaping effective policy and industry response.
Second, she calls for increased investment in innovation and R&D, particularly around new recycling technologies. Swann envisions a public-private partnership to expand domestic recycling capacity and make it more viable to process scrap onshore.
Enabling low-carbon aluminium for UK industry
Retaining scrap is not just about supply security, it’s also about enabling decarbonisation. Secondary aluminium requires up to 95% less energy to produce than primary aluminium. BOAL’s own low-carbon offering, BLUE, now contains less than four tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of aluminium.
“With BOAL’s BLUE programme, we can offer our customers a low-carbon aluminium extrusion solution,” says Swann. “Whether it’s for construction, transport or solar, our profiles help enable decarbonisation across key markets.”
She closes with a reminder of aluminium’s unique property: it is infinitely recyclable. “You really have to maximise the opportunity with that,” she adds - a call to action for industry, policymakers and customers alike.
A campaign that sparks conversation
BOAL Extrusion UK’s contribution to the ALFED campaign reflects its commitment to transparency, innovation and sector-wide progress. The video is more than a showcase, it’s an invitation to engage with the strategic potential of aluminium scrap, and to explore how low-carbon solutions like BOAL Blue can support the UK’s sustainability goals.
Watch the full interview with Emma Swann to hear how BOAL is helping shape the future of aluminium - responsibly, collaboratively and with purpose.
