Abstract
Life cycle assessment was performed using a bottom-up approach combined with national and regional statistical data to estimate the environmental footprint of aluminum production in China. In the footprint of aluminum production, the environmental effects of bauxite, aluminum oxide, and electrolytic aluminum accounted for approximately 1.4%, 8%, and 90.6% of the overall environmental burden, respectively. The amounts of CO2, particulates, NOX and SO2 generated in the aluminum industry accounted for approximately 3.53%, 1.99%, 3.47%, and 5.34% of the total national emission in China in 2012, respectively. More than 94% of the global warming and fossil depletion potential impacts can be saved through aluminum recycling. Electricity and natural gas consumption, transport, and solid waste disposal were the dominant contributors to primary and secondary aluminum production. The use of bitumen and inorganic chemicals also influenced primary and secondary aluminum production, respectively. Effective approaches to reduce the environmental burdens of aluminum production include replacing coal with clean energy sources for electricity production, improving the efficiency of energy and raw material consumption, and increasing the national recycling rate of aluminum.
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