Benefits of ethical sourcing for UK industry

Companies that rely on aluminium for their products such as drinks cans and deodorant bottles should start expecting consumers to demand the metal is ethically sourced, energy experts predict.

Lord Barker, chairman of aluminium producer EN+ Group, also suggested this could lead to a surge in new jobs as the industry looks to onshore production with plants powered by renewable electricity.

He said: “As the ‘energy transition’ rolls forward, the demand for low-carbon materials and particularly aluminium will soar.

“Roll forward 10 years, I can see heavy industry ‘coming home’ after four decades of decline in UK manufacturing, as manufacturers strive to decarbonise and move their operations to jurisdictions where there is a plentiful supply of affordable, renewable electricity.

“This has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs here in the UK by the end of the decade and beyond.

“This would be a very welcome, yet unexpected industrial dividend from the UK’s world leadership in developing and pioneering offshore wind.”

The vast majority of aluminium is produced in China, where nearly all production plants run on burning coal.

However, with global warming and environmental concerns becoming one of the key issues for younger generations, it is thought they could start shunning companies which continue to use materials from coalfired sources.

A recent YouGov survey, commissioned by the Carbon Trust, found 67% of consumers were in favour of carbon labelling for products.