Circular economy: a strategic area to make aluminium more sustainable
In the pursuit of a sustainable future, the circular economy has emerged as a strategic imperative, especially in vital sectors like aluminium production. The European Union, recognising the significance of circularity, has set ambitious policies to drive innovation and sustainability in this area. Against this backdrop, Z-ONA4LIFE steps into the spotlight, positioning itself as an innovative initiative to drive change in the aluminium industry. This project embarks on a novel journey, aligning with strategic EU policies, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Industrial Strategy, the Waste Framework Directive, the European Green Deal, and the Sustainable Development Goals, to make aluminium production not just a process but a sustainable, circular practice.
Z-ONA4LIFE: a project that aims to innovate the aluminium industry through Circular Economy
Z-ONA4LIFE embarked its journey in September 2023 and by 2027 it aims to make the aluminium industry more circular. The project unfolds through four pivotal stages:
- Waste Selection: addressing hazardous aluminium salt slag and Si-rich waste, and exploring recovery options.
- Products, Process, and Scaling-up: producing Z-ONA zeolite from aluminium slag, scaling up to a pilot plant level, and recovering valuable by-products.
- Circularity and Near Zero Waste: utilising Z-ONA zeolite in various applications, enhancing composting with spent zeolite, and harnessing gases for commercial use.
- Sustainability and Results Exploitation: demonstrating scalable Z-ONA zeolite manufacturing on a pilot scale, ensuring broad project replication, and promoting sustainability.
Z-ONA4LIFE aims to make an impact in the industrial, sustainability and social viewpoints by sharing knowledge and spreading the word about sustainable resource recovery. It helps manage waste better, encourages using fewer resources, cuts down on emissions, and keeps our soil healthy.
Circular Futures: Z-ONA4LIFE's revolution in aluminium production
To share its main objectives, the Z-ONA4LIFE project's team is organising its first webinar on 21 February at 10:00 (CET). Industrial players, public authorities, municipalities, policymakers, researchers, and all individuals interested in the circular economy and aluminium sectors are welcome to join.
This informative webinar aims to present the main objectives of Z-ONA4LIFE, introduce its pilot plant, explain the optimisation process from lab to pilot plant for salt slag to zeolite, and showcase how to pioneer a circular business model for Spain initially, and Europe as a second stage.
If you're eager to learn more about Z-ONA4LIFE, don't miss our webinar!
As the project is in its initial stages, it aims to establish strong connections with the Spanish industrial environment. For this reason, one of the primary goals is to engage with Spanish companies, and as a consequence, this first webinar is organised in Spanish. However, follow-up events will be available in English or both languages.
We look forward to your participation!
Agenda
- 10:00 - 10:10 - LIFE programme: objectives and strategic plan - Jose Manuel Blanco, MITECO (Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge)
- 10:10 - 10:20 - Z-ONA4LIFE: Advancing Circular Aluminium Foundries - Aurora López Delgado, Researcher at CSIC and Z-ONA4LIFE coordinator
- 10:20 - 10:30 - Salt slag: from a hazardous waste to an adsorbent like zeolites - Maximina Romero, Researcher at CSIC
- 10:30 - 10:40 - Optimising salt slag to zeolite from Lab to the pilot plant - Manuel Revuelta Bayod, Quality, Environmental and Health Safety System Manager at FERROSADIM
- 10:40 - 10:50 - Z-ONA4LIFE: pioneering a circular business model for Europe - Teresa Miñambres, Plant Director at ALUSIGMA
- 10:50 - 11:00 - Q&A with the audience
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