Improving year by year

Alcan Inc. is a competitive producer of primary metal, a global force in aluminum fabrication, and one of the world’s leading suppliers of packaging materials. Most importantly, we seek to continuously improve our products, services, and operations.

This report – the second of its type that we have produced, and often referred to as a corporate social responsibility report – focuses on ways in which Alcan Primary Metal, British Columbia has sought improvements relating to a wide range of issues and challenges over the course of the year 2000. Our intent is to enable readers to assess our progress from one year to the next, and the extent to which our operations make a net contribution to the province. Some of the improvements we are working towards relate to providing the highest value possible to our shareholders and the customers who purchase our products. But the concept of continuous improvement extends much further.

Our operations in B.C. involve the large-scale diversion and management of water in the Nechako Watershed. Our smelter in Kitimat is a major industrial facility that uses large quantities of hydroelectricity and raw materials in the production of aluminum, and generates a variety of byproducts. Such operations require the highest level of environmental management. This involves careful monitoring of all impacts and adaptive management to ensure that our environmental footprint is continually lightened.

Our operations also have social significance in B.C. One measure of this is the level of direct employment we provide — 1,847 jobs in 2000. We recognize our responsibilities to address issues that are social in nature, both in the context of employment relationships with individual workers and in the context of our relationships with the broader communities and stakeholders with whom we interact.

In 2000, we continued to seek and invest in innovative economic, environmental, and social improvements. Increasingly, we are identifying links among these sets of issues and finding ways to integrate the pursuit of specific objectives. Our efforts and results are reflected in the three performance sections of this report.

We would appreciate your taking the time to give us your thoughts on this report by filling out the card on the back flap, calling us toll-free at 1-800-94ALCAN, or sending an e-mail to alcan.in.bc.mag@alcan.com. Your feedback is a critical component of our quest for continuous improvement.