How Alpha HPA Turned Carbon Transparency into a Competitive Edge
The Key Benefits
To stand out in a market demanding proof, not promises, Alpha HPA set out to verify what few in the alumina space could. As a leader in ultra-high purity, low-carbon alumina production, Alpha HPA sought precise carbon footprint data to demonstrate the environmental credentials of its innovative manufacturing processes to meet the growing expectations of customers, investors and sustainability accreditors. Partnering with CarbonChain, Alpha HPA undertook a detailed product carbon footprint (PCF) assessment across its product range. The result? Audit-ready, independently verified emissions data that underpins its sustainability claims and sharpens its competitive edge.
“CarbonChain’s detailed product carbon footprinting has enabled Alpha HPA to cement our position as an industry leader in sustainability, and communicate our commitment to ultra-high purity, low-carbon alumina production."
Rob Williamson, Managing Director, Alpha HPA
Process map, cradle-to-gate
The Client
Alpha HPA
Alpha HPA is an Australian-based, publicly listed company pioneering the application of solvent extraction (SX) purification technology for aluminium materials. This innovation enables the production of ultra-high purity aluminium materials with significantly lower carbon emissions than conventional methods.
Alpha HPA’s ultra-high-purity alumina (HPA) and related aluminium materials, such as hydroxides and nitrates serve critical applications in high-tech industries, including LED lighting, synthetic sapphire, semiconductors, direct lithium extraction (DLE) and lithium-ion battery markets. What sets Alpha HPA apart is its commitment to the highest purity standards for high-performance sectors while maintaining a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.
The Challenge
Establishing Sustainability Metrics
As a company committed to leadership in sustainability,Alpha HPA sought verifiable carbon footprint data to support claims regarding its low-carbon production processes. Transparency was essential, not only for internal sustainability tracking but also for external stakeholders – including investors and customers – who increasingly demand rigorous, independently-validated emissions reporting.
To meet these demands, Alpha HPA sought a comprehensive, cradle-to-gate assessment of its carbon emissions across its primary products.
The challenge? Getting accurate carbon data across a complex supply chain and proving it could stand up to investor and customer scrutiny, as well as international carbon accounting standards.
The Process
Product Carbon Footprinting (PCF) with CarbonChain
To address these needs, Alpha HPA partnered withCarbonChain, which specialises in high-accuracy emissions accounting aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard, whilst taking into account ISO 14067:2018 and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act (NGER) guidelines. The assessment focused on quantifying Alpha HPA’s environmental impact across the following products:
1. Ultra-HighPurity Alumina (HPA)
2. UltraAluminium Nitrate
3. UltraBoehmite
4. Ultra-HighPurity Aluminium Tri-Hydrate (ATH)
5. Ultra-HighPurity Gamma Alumina
6. SinteredHigh Purity Alumina Tablets
Mapping Product Life Cycles
Alpha HPA worked closely with CarbonChain’s experts to map its production processes, incorporating asset-level data from both its own operations and key suppliers. Given the significant variability in emissions based on production methods and geographic factors, accurate data collection as essential. Where primary data was unavailable, CarbonChain applied rigorous modelling and industry best practices to ensure accurate estimates.
Carbon Footprint Calculation
Using CarbonChain’s carbon accounting expertise, AlphaHPA quantified emissions from raw material extraction, through our production processes to final product, from cradle-to-gate. The assessment adhered to established carbon accounting standards, ensuring accuracy and comparability. The carbon accounting also incorporated system expansion allocation methods for byproduct emissions, in line with best practice for chemical production lifecycle assessments. The results provided clear visibility into emissions drivers and validated Alpha HPA’s sustainability initiatives, including:
- No reliance on traditional high-carbon aluminium feedstock in the production process thanks to their licenced SX technology
- 100% renewable electricity across manufacturing
- Near-complete process reagent recycling to cut waste and resource use thanks to their partnership with Orica.
“CarbonChain’s rigorous methodology gave us a clear, credible emissions profile. Exactly what we needed to communicate our sustainability value proposition.”
Derek Bogaert, Sales Marketing Manager, Alpha HPA
The Outcomes
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Verifiable data that powers accreditation
In an industry where sustainability claims often lack substantiation, Alpha HPA’s independently calculated carbon footprint data provides a competitive edge. The comprehensive PCF assessment allows Alpha HPA to differentiate itself by offering customers transparency on the environmental impact of its products.
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A platform for competitive advantage
Alpha HPA’s commitment to sustainability was further recognised through an Ecovadis Silver rating. The robust emissions data fromCarbonChain’s assessment played a role in completing the sustainability evaluation, reinforcing Alpha HPA’s position as a responsible supplier within the high-tech materials industry.
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Conclusion
By leveraging CarbonChain’s industry-leading carbon accounting methodologies, Alpha HPA has strengthened its sustainability credentials with third-party endorsed emissions data. The ability to quantify and communicate its low-carbon profile supports Alpha HPA’s broader mission: to provide the highest-purity alumina products with the lowest possible environmental footprint. As transparency becomes a prerequisite in global markets, Alpha HPA stands out. Ready to lead the sustainable alumina sector with low-carbon credentials.
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