Century Aluminum's Natur-Al Billet: Low-Carbon Metal for Automotive and Construction Buyers

Century Aluminum offers Natur-Al billet, a certified low-carbon aluminum product aimed at OEMs and extrusion houses that need to reduce the carbon footprint of car parts, window frames, and battery enclosures. The billet is produced using hydropower at the Norðurál smelter in Iceland, achieving Scope 1 and 2 emissions around 2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of aluminum, compared to a global average of 16 tonnes. Buyers get chain-of-custody documentation and third-party verification under ISO 14064, which helps them report lower embodied carbon in their own products. Natur-Al is available in several carbon-intensity brackets so customers can match specific climate targets. The product fits standard 6000-series extrusion recipes, meaning manufacturers can switch without changing their processes. Century does not publish a fixed surcharge, but trade sources indicate low-carbon primary aluminum carries a premium over standard LME-linked metal. The business case works best for high-margin EV components and architectural systems where end buyers recognize and pay for the lower footprint. A key limitation is that Natur-Al only covers smelter-level Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Downstream steps like extrusion and finishing still fall under the customer's own footprint. Century's low-carbon advantage also depends on stable hydropower contracts in Iceland and the US. Changes in energy prices or grid mix could narrow the gap with competitors that also use renewables.