Staying ahead of the technology curve means strengthening your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the manufacturing industry. This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked sustainable aluminum manufacturing solutions.
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 5 Top Sustainable Aluminum Manufacturing Solutions out of 97
The insights of this data-driven analysis are derived from the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally. The platform gives you an exhaustive overview of emerging technologies & relevant startups within a specific field in just a few clicks.
The Global Startup Heat Map below reveals the distribution of the 97 exemplary startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research. Further, it highlights 5 manufacturing startups that we hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, and more. You get to explore the solutions of these 5 startups & scaleups in this report. For insights on the other 92 sustainable aluminum manufacturing solutions, get in touch.
ELYSIS eliminates all Direct Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in Aluminum Smelting
Aluminum industries contribute nearly one percent of the total industrial GHG production. Even though uncontaminated aluminum is able to be recycled indefinitely, different chemical and electrolytic reactions to process the material generate a carbon footprint. Startups devise unique methods to reduce this GHG production and promote sustainable manufacturing of aluminum-based products.
Canadian aluminum startup ELYSIS develops a carbon-free smelting process by eliminating all direct GHGs and delivering oxygen as its by-product. In addition to the environmental benefits, the startup’s proprietary technology improves occupational health & safety and reduces capital intensity & operational costs while increasing productivity. The ELYSIS aluminum smelting technology reduces the carbon footprint of products in transportation, construction, electrical goods, and more.
Proud Source Water uses Aluminum Bottles for Packaging
Sustainable packaging is a vital element to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging materials from the food, retail, and cosmetics industries, among others. Biodegradable plastics and other eco-friendly alternatives are already in use as viable alternatives for plastics in packaging. Besides, aluminum-based options such as aluminum foil and cans also prove to be a viable alternative for plastics due to their indefinite recyclability.
The US-based drinking water startup Proud Source Water utilizes BPA-free aluminum packaging to assure sustainability in their products. The startup uses aluminum to produce its water bottle and caps. To further reduce their carbon footprint, Proud Source Water’s facility runs on an off-the-grid solar power and works a gravity-fed system to bottle the spring water at the source.
Log 9 Materials develops Recyclable Aluminum Fuel Cells
Sustainable and efficient battery cell production is an integral part of converting petroleum-based mobility into electric-based mobility. The recyclability of lithium-ion cells is one of the major concerns in the existing electric vehicle design as they are not recyclable. That is why energy startups formulate advanced battery designs to increase storage efficiency and improve sustainability, making electric mobility solutions cleaner.
Indian nanotechnology scaleup Log 9 Materials specializes in green renewable energy and filtration applications of graphene. The startup’s circular fuel cells utilize graphene and aluminum to power up houses, automobiles, and more. Log 9’s stationary powerhouse system uses aluminum as its fuel and converts it into bauxite during the discharge process. This bauxite is again processed to make aluminum, thus rendering a circular aluminum economy. Also, the aluminum-based design of Log 9’s fuel cell is clean as it has no emissions and improves safety while handling.
Vélosophy Cycles AB produces Bicycles
The durability of aluminum enables manufacturers to use it for different applications, from construction to aerospace. Along with that, aluminum’s recyclability helps startups reprocess the produced aluminum and manufacture secondary products without any challenges. However, losing aluminum in landfills is a significant concern for recycling industries. That is why startups develop aluminum-based products and market them to educate customers and promote recycling.
Vélosophy Cycles AB is a Swedish bicycle manufacturing startup that uses recycled aluminum to make bicycle frames. The startup’s RE:CYCLE has a frame designed from recycled Nespresso aluminum coffee capsules. Vélosophy Cycles AB is nurturing the sustainable use of aluminum by making products out of it and reducing its footprint.
LumiShield provides Aluminum-Based Alternative for Corrosion Resistance
Material corrosion incurs losses in terms of operation downtime, accidents, and environmental impacts. Conventional corrosion resistance methods such as electroplating and powder coating use phosphates and chromates that are harmful to the environment. Advancements in material processing enable startups to develop eco-friendly solutions for long-term corrosion prevention, saving costs and time.
The US-based company LumiShield is a spinoff from Carnegie Mellon and the National Energy Technology Laboratory. The company develops an aluminum-based replacement for phosphates, chromates, primers, and mechanical prep for metal surface coating, Lumidize, which is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Lumidize uses proprietary aqueous plating chemistry that allows water-based deposition of aluminum and is used in automotive, aerospace, and more.
Discover more Manufacturing Startups
Manufacturing startups such as the examples highlighted in this report focus on the Internet of Things, robotics, automation as well as machine learning. While all of these technologies play a major role in advancing the manufacturing industry, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. To explore more manufacturing technologies, simply get in touch to let us look into your areas of interest. For a more general overview, you can download our free Manufacturing Innovation Report to save your time and improve strategic decision-making.
