Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Announces Three-Year Partnership with Novelis

Pictured (l-r) Novelis Human Resources Director Andy Quinn, Novelis Plant Manager Kristen Nelson, Friends of the Zoo Executive Director Carrie Large and Susan Cole, Novelis Communications Lead.

To commemorate World Recycling Day, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with Novelis. The company will serve as the zoo’s official Sustainability in Action Sponsor.

As the world’s largest recycler of aluminum, and the leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum products, Novelis is the perfect partner for the conservation-minded zoo. The partnership will advance the zoo’s ongoing conservation mission that seeks to foster the intrinsic connections between people, plants and animals, and our shared environment to promote global wellness.

“Here at the zoo, we work tirelessly to ensure the health of the species in our care,” said Executive Director of the Friends of the Zoo Carrie Large. “That also includes the preservation of the planet we all call home. Our partnership with Novelis helps us accomplish our mission, while educating the public about the collective, connected health of all things.”

Novelis is a global leader in sustainable aluminum creation and re-use. Incorporated in 2005, the company is the biggest buyer and recycler of used beverage cans in the world and recycles more than 82 billion of those cans each year. The company’s website proudly touts that “a can that is recycled today can be back on store shelves in just sixty days.”

Most companies invest in cheap, non-recyclable materials to cut costs, and the environment pays the price, but Novelis has tapped into the infinite potential of aluminum -- saving money, energy, and most importantly, our planet. Novelis is not only the leader in the cutting-edge creation and efficient reuse of aluminum, but also a true trailblazer in the recycling world.

“Novelis’ vision of Shaping a Sustainable World together goes beyond our own doors and efforts, extending into the communities where we live and work,” said Kristen Nelson, plant manager at Novelis Oswego. “Partnering with Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an exciting opportunity for us to highlight the interconnectedness of environmentally focused practices, like using infinitely recyclable aluminum in place of plastic, and preserving our planet for our children, their children and all the species that call Earth home.”

As our Sustainability in Action Sponsor, Novelis will help the zoo conceptualize green sustainability initiatives and help educate guests on eco-friendly alternatives and sustainable practices. The partnership will also include a new exhibit regarding plastic waste in oceans in the USS Antiquities Cave.

The company’s eco-education isn’t just for zoo guests; Novelis is bolstering the zoo’s approach to sustainability and has already helped guide the zoo as it transitions away from single-use plastics like bottles in favor of aluminum cans.

The zoo will celebrate this new partnership with Novelis Party for the Planet activities on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22, which include Earth-friendly events such as a can drive and more.

Likewise, the Sustainability in Action sponsor will assist the zoo’s “Green Team” as they work towards expanding conservation and sustainability goals.

For more information on the Novelis Party for the Planet, visit rosamondgiffordzoo.org. Follow the zoo’s social media for regular updates.