MIGAL.CO aluminium welding wire has an estimated carbon footprint of about 3.9 kg CO₂e per kg of wire (cradle-to-gate). That is roughly a quarter of the global average for primary aluminium of 14.8 kg CO₂e/kg (International Aluminium Institute, 2023) – even though our value already includes wire rod production and wire drawing.

Why is the footprint so low?

Most of the carbon footprint of aluminium comes from electrolysis, the reduction of alumina to aluminium. The wire rod we use for all 15 aluminium alloys is made from primary aluminium produced predominantly with low-carbon electricity. According to our supplier, the rod accounts for 3.58 kg CO₂e per kg including transport to our plant. Our own production in Landau an der Isar adds only 0.28 kg CO₂e/kg: buildings are heated by a heat pump, forklifts run on electricity, and no process gases are released.

Breakdown of the carbon footprint

Contribution kg CO₂e per kg wire
Wire rod incl. upstream processes and transport (supplier data) 3.58
Electricity at MIGAL.CO (0.48 kWh/kg, 563 g CO₂/kWh) 0.27
Direct emissions at MIGAL.CO (Scope 1) 0.01
Total (cradle-to-gate) 3.86

How we calculated it

  • System boundary: from raw material to our factory gate (cradle-to-gate).
  • Wire rod: value declared by our supplier (statement of 16 October 2023).
  • Electricity: 360,000 kWh for 750 t of wire in 2025 (whole site), emission factor from our electricity supplier's 2025 disclosure.
  • Direct emissions: greenhouse gas balance Scope 1, 2025, according to the GHG Protocol (6.26 t CO₂e).
  • Not included: packaging, transport to the customer, yield losses in wire drawing.

Reference values

Primary aluminium has a global average carbon footprint of 14.8 kg CO₂e/kg (International Aluminium Institute, 2023) and a European average of 6.6 kg CO₂e/kg (European Aluminium, 2023). Both values end at the aluminium ingot; our value additionally includes wire rod production and wire drawing.

Data quality

This is an estimate based on supplier data and our own figures for 2025. It has not been verified by a third party and is not an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). We update the value when new data become available.

Frequently asked questions

Does the value apply to all alloys?

Yes – all 15 MIGAL.CO aluminium welding wire alloys are made from wire rod from the same production line.

Can I use the value for my Scope 3 accounting?

Yes. On request we send you the calculation with all data sources: Contact.