11.08.2006 - 12:11pm ET

(CSRwire) Montreal, Canada-Alcan has received the Robert W. Campbell Award for excellence in environment, health and safety (EHS) at the National Safety Council's (NSC) Congress & Expo in San Diego, California. The Award recognizes the very best businesses worldwide that integrate environment, health and safety management as a key business value and that demonstrate how EHS performance is linked to productivity and profitability.

"Alcan is greatly honoured to receive the Robert W. Campbell Award for worldwide excellence in EHS programming and performance through its EHS FIRST management system," said Dick Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Inc. at the Robert W. Campbell awards ceremony. "EHS FIRST is more than a system and more than world-class results, it represents an attitude, mindset and acceptance of responsibility and accountability. It demands a willingness to change, a promise to do the right thing, and a commitment to be an EHS believer and champion," he added.

Alcan's groundwork for EHS FIRST began in 2001 during the merger integration of Alcan and algroup. The official launch of EHS FIRST in April 2003 signaled a significant shift in Alcan's corporate culture as the entire Company committed to a vision of EHS excellence. EHS FIRST established a common foundation for achieving this vision at all sites. It integrated best practices from Alcan and third parties, as well as ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 specifications, and spelled out the Company's key EHS requirements, roles and responsibilities.

EHS FIRST is the key to ensuring Alcan reaches its company-wide objective of zero EHS-related incidents. The system has delivered more than US$40 million in identified savings as well as avoiding numerous injuries and incidents, and is fostering a mindset and culture of EHS believers and champions throughout the Company.

EHS FIRST is part of the Alcan Integrated Management System (AIMS), the Company-wide business platform that drives Alcan's governing objective of "Maximizing Value". It supports the development of best-in-class performance practices and is aimed at establishing a sustainable competitive advantage in each of Alcan's four business groups. In addition to EHS FIRST AIMS interconnects three other key Alcan management systems: Value-Based Management, Continuous Improvement, and Alcan People Advantage.

Winners of the Robert W. Campbell Award are selected by a panel of 40 reviewers. The reviewers are selected by a group of international safety and health organizations, which include internationally recognized experts and leaders in business, education, safety, health and environmental fields. The review process includes a comprehensive evaluation and site visits to finalist organizations. Exxon-Mobil is the primary sponsor of the Robert W. Campbell Award.

Robert W. Campbell, a Chicago attorney in the early 20th century, was a pioneer of the U.S. occupational safety movement. He served as the first President of the NSC from 1913-1917. The National Safety Council is a non-profit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Members of NSC include more than 45,000 businesses, labour organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals.

Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 65,000 employees in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$20.3 billion in 2005. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.

For more information please contact: