The Aluminum Can: Not as Detrimental as You Might Think

The Aluminum Can:Not as Detrimental as You Might Think

Everybody uses aluminum cans on a regular basis. It could be in the form your favorite beverage or product. It's difficult to determine how environmentally friendly these packaging types are.

The aluminum can is a sustainable packaging material when compared with other materials like plastic or glass. The aluminum can is a great material for recycling because of its value and ease of recycling. It also allows massive amounts of waste to be avoided each year.

Here is a list of all the ways aluminum cans are an advantage to the packaging industry.

Recycling Ability & Frequency:

Aluminum cans outperform both glass and traditional plastic (PET) containers in terms of consumer recycling capabilities and are at the forefront of the industry when it comes to material recycling. Analyzing the recycling rates for plastic, glass, and aluminum, aluminum stands out with an average recycling rate of 46.1%, surpassing the 26.7% for plastic and 39.6% for glass.

Although these percentages might appear close, the disparity in the volume of material recycled is substantial. The recycling rate is a measure of the proportion of aluminum scrap that is recycled. Since its initial reporting by the Aluminum Association in 1972, the recycling rate for aluminum scrap has seen a significant increase of 15.4%.

In 2019, the aluminum can recycling sector recycled over 42.7 billion cans, achieving an industry recycling rate of 55.9%. This was a decrease from the 2018 average of 66.6%, which can be attributed to changes in production during 2019 and a shift towards packaging products in alternative materials.

The Efficiency of Aluminum Recycling:

While the recycling process for many products does not typically result in materials being restored to their original state, aluminum cans are an exception. They are often recycled back into their original form, with aluminum cans containing more than three times the recycled content compared to glass or plastic bottles. Consequently, the average percentage of recycled aluminum in new cans is around 73%.

From an energy efficiency standpoint, aluminum cans also excel in recycling. Producing aluminum from recycled materials requires only about 8% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum. This significantly incentivizes manufacturers to prioritize the use of recycled materials, fostering a sustainable growth in the recycling process. Additionally, the origin of the aluminum material for recycling is irrelevant; both consumer waste and industrial scrap are equally suitable for the recycling process.

The High Value of Aluminum Recycling:

The substantial economic value generated by the aluminum recycling sector significantly bolsters the advancement of recycling initiatives. Across various regions, the primary source of income for both private and public recycling programs often comes from the resale of recycled materials, thanks to the substantial returns they can generate.

Aluminum commands a significantly higher price compared to glass and plastic, averaging at $1,210 per ton. This is a stark contrast to plastic (PET), which averages at $237 per ton, and glass, which has an average cost of around -$21 per ton. This disparity is evident on the consumer side as well, with many recycling companies imposing additional fees for glass recycling due to the difficulty in generating profits from its collection.

Adopting a True Closed Loop Recycling System:

Given the numerous benefits of recycling aluminum cans for both manufacturers and consumers, it's evident that embracing recycling on a larger scale is a logical step for everyone. For instance,the energy conserved by recycling 100% of all aluminum cans produced is sufficient to supply power to over 4.1 million households for an entire year.

Furthermore,by recycling all our aluminum cans,we could save an average of $810 million annually for the economy. Achieving this level of recycling would establish a genuine 'closed loop' system,aiming for 100% of all aluminum cans to be repurposed into their original form.