Let's talk aluminium : Evaluating the aluminium stewardship initiative's effectiveness and applicability as a mechanism in sustainability governance from a multi-stakeholder perspective

Abstract: Mining bauxite and producing aluminium causes severe sustainability challenges. Although the usage of these non-renewable resource is inherently unsustainable, the global economy fosters an increased use of supposed “eco-friendly” aluminium. German industry is an important user of aluminium and a key player in the aluminium industry. The production of aluminium causes many sustainability challenges, including biodiversity loss and land use change. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a voluntary alliance of companies and NGOs; its aim is to establish a certification to decrease the sustainability impacts of aluminium. Despite high expectations, little is known about the motivation for the ASI, its strengths and weaknesses and legitimacy as a governance mechanism. This thesis analyses the viability of aluminium certification, concentrating specifically on the motivation for the standard, its potential effectiveness and legitimacy as a governance mechanism. To carry out the analysis, I use Germany as a case. Grounded in sustainability science and transdisciplinarity, I used a literature review and in-depth interviews with German stakeholders from the industry, civil society and academia to create solution-oriented knowledge. My research is located in the field of sustainability science, as it expands the field into the realm of sustainability certification and applies a transdisciplinary research. The findings of this study reveal that underlying motivations for the ASI are competitive advantages, risk mitigation and reputation for involved companies. The motivation to increase the sustainability of the production chain is only secondary. Despite the involvement of stakeholders, the actual legitimacy of the ASI is contested, as NGOs lack capacities to engage deeply in such a multi-stakeholder approach. Truly affected stakeholders, such as indigenous people, are only indirectly represented. As there is no functioning alternative to a voluntary certification, the ASI is the only applicable mechanism to tackle cross-border challenges of aluminium. Regardless of the limited legitimacy, the ASI has the potential to improve the sustainability of certain parts of the production chain, and can act as a role model. Albeit the great expectations on the ASI, a certification alone is not sufficient to solve affiliated sustainability challenges. Additional measures, such as capacity development and the mitigation of corruption, are necessary for less impactful aluminium production systems. In the long run, a transition is needed towards a circular economy that uses only recycled aluminium. Until humanity reaches such a sustainable economy, the ASI is the most promising tool to diminish at least some sustainability challenges of aluminium.