On Tuesday 21st  January 2025, the European Aluminium Innovation Hub hosted an insightful webinar titled, Exploring Industrial Symbiosis in the Aluminium Industry under the CORALIS Framework. The event brought together around 40 participants, to discuss innovative strategies for advancing industrial symbiosis (IS) and the importance of collaboration across different industries.

The event featured presentations from leading EU-funded projects, each offering a unique perspective on the practical applications of industrial symbiosis:

  1. CORALIS Project: Lucia Ventura (CIRCE) and Marco Fontanella (Raffmetal) presented the progress of CORALIS in Brescia, Italy. The project focuses on recovering fluff waste to reuse aluminium and steel fractions. By fostering industrial symbiosis with local steelmakers, the initiative reduces carbon footprints and optimises resource use, exemplifying a successful cross-sectoral collaboration.
  2. REACTIV Project: Philippe Benard (Holcim) showcased how the REACTIV project transforms bauxite residues from aluminium production into sustainable clinker alternatives for cement. This innovation supports circularity between the aluminium and cement industries while reducing waste and CO₂ emissions.
  3. LIFE BAUXAL II Project: Jessica Montero García (Befesa) highlighted efforts to recycle hazardous aluminium salt slags. By converting secondary aluminium oxide into refractory-grade bauxite, the project addresses a critical environmental challenge while creating valuable raw materials.
  4. SAIS-SPIRE Project: Antonius Schröder (TU Dortmund) discussed the SPIRE-SAIS alliance, which addresses skills development for industrial symbiosis. Co-funded by Erasmus+, the initiative updates curricula and qualifications in energy-intensive industries to equip Europe’s workforce for a sustainable future.

The discussions emphasised the significant role of regulatory frameworks and sustained EU investment in fostering industrial symbiosis and advancing circular economy practices. Participants emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve resource efficiency and sustainability goals.

Click here to watch the recording of the webinar.

You can find the presentations here:

  1. Opening slides
  2. CORALIS Project
  3. REACTIV project
  4. LIFE BAUXAL II Project
  5. SAIS-SPIRE Project