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PITTSBURGH, PA--March 17, 2004-- Alcoa announced that its environmental achievements have earned its inclusion in the book, Industry Genius: Inventions and People Protecting the Climate and Fragile Ozone Layer, written by Environmentalists Stephen O. Andersen and Durwood Zaelke.

Alcoa is one of eight companies and two government enterprises profiled that are using their inventive genius to protect the climate and the ozone layers. The book devotes a chapter to Alcoa, its processes and achievements.

In the Alcoa chapter, the authors chronicle the challenge and technological breakthroughs Alcoa made after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approached it with an offer of a global partnership to investigate methods for reducing the emissions of PFC greenhouse gases. Alcoa's approach included implementing best management practices and technical initiatives, as well as technology sharing teams within its worldwide smelting system. Significant reductions occurred in all geographical regions as a direct result of project initiatives, testing and implementation of best practices and technology improvements. Alcoa's Massena, New York, and Mt. Holly, South Carolina, smelters were highlighted as reducing PFC emissions to world-class benchmark levels as of year 2000.

Also cited in the book is Alcoa's long-term environmental program based on sustainable development principles and the company's continuous efforts to reduce energy use by process optimization and alloy improvements, by striving for higher aluminum recycling rates, and by innovative forming and product design to provide the same performance with less aluminum.

Authors Andersen and Zaelke looked for two things in their search for industry genius companies: first, a management commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership; and second, brilliant engineers who are appropriately challenged, inspired and equipped to develop sustainable ways of doing activities.

About Alcoa:

Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 120,000 employees in 41 countries.

About the authors:

Durwood Zaelke is the Managing Partner in the Washington office of Zelle, Hoffmann, Voelbel, Mason & Getty, and the co-founder and co-director of the Program on Governance for Sustainable Development at the Bren School of Environmental Sciences and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the founder and past President (1989-2003) of the Center for International Environmental Law in Wash., D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland, and the founder of the International Environmental Law Program at American University's law school. He is the author of International Environmental Law and Policy, the leading textbook in is field, used in more than 115 universities around the world.

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