How Granges is Powering Circular Manufacturing: AI, Recycling, and the Road to Net Zero

Guest: Rosa Laxamana, Vice President of Sustainability at Gränges
Host: Tim Ridderbos, VP at Shapiro

What happens when a midstream aluminum leader turns infinite recyclability into a blueprint for low-carbon manufacturing?

In this episode of 5 for Five, Shapiro’s Tim Ridderbos talks with Gränges’ Rosa Laxamana about how the company transforms raw metal into rolled products across seven global facilities and why climate, circularity, and operations are at the center of its strategy.

“We have a net zero goal by 2040. That includes purchasing low carbon primary, increasing our renewable electricity and then reducing the need for these fossil fuels that we've got to get away from.” — Rosa Laxamana, Gränges

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Time Stamps:

00:08 – Who is Rosa Laxamana?

00:28 – How Gränges fits into the supply chain

01:16 – Gränges’ sustainability pillars

02:55 – Technology as a catalyst

03:49 – What’s next for aluminum and manufacturing

Midstream, by Design

Gränges sits at the heart of the value chain by transforming raw metal into rolled products that other manufacturers turn into finished goods. Rosa explains how this position enables impact at scale, from material selection to scrap capture and return flows.

“We’re considered midstream in the supply chain because we specialize in rolling and recycling of aluminum.”

Climate, Circularity, and Operations

Gränges’ strategy centers on three priorities: cutting carbon, increasing recycled content, and continually improving operations.

“Recycling uses 5 % of the energy that primary production does.”

Investments range from partnerships to bring post- and pre-consumer scrap back into the loop to deploying an all-electric casting center at one facility, advancing low-carbon production.

Technology that Moves the Needle

From AI to data transparency, Gränges is leveraging technology to sharpen quality, efficiency, and accountability.

“We look at huge amounts of data and AI to then look at this data for predictive maintenance, you know, reduce downtime, even carbon emissions and tracking. I think transparency is huge.”

These tools help customers see and trust the improvements, turning reporting into real performance.

Why Aluminum Matters for Decarbonization

Lightweight, strong, and infinitely recyclable. From EVs to consumer goods, aluminum is poised to play a starring role in the low-carbon transition.

“The industry continues to invest in low carbon technologies and circularity because we see that [aluminum] is an incredibly resilient, sustainable metal, which is why it really will be important for the future and decarbonizing.”

Why It Matters

Aluminum is one of the world’s most recyclable, versatile materials and Gränges is proving that sustainability and performance can coexist at scale. By embedding climate action, circularity, and technology into core operations, the company is redefining what responsible manufacturing looks like today.

Connect with Rosa Laxamana
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