The sustainable value of aluminium cans

By Marlen Bertram, Director of Scenarios and Forecasts, IAI?

Aluminium cans are the most recycled beverage containers worldwide, underscoring their significant sustainability benefits and the importance of enhancing recycling efforts to maximise their environmental impact, says Marlen Bertram, IAI Director – Scenarios & Forecasts.?

Aluminium cans have long been a leading choice for beverage packaging – and given their significant sustainability benefits, this is unlikely to change any time soon.?

The global consumption of aluminium cans is projected to exceed 600 billion units annually by 2030 from 400 billion units today, driven by their widespread use for alcoholic and soft drinks. This anticipated growth underscores the importance of enhancing recycling efforts to maximise environmental benefits.?

Aluminium cans are the most recycled beverage containers worldwide, boasting a recycling rate of 71%. This high rate significantly outperforms other beverage packaging materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and glass bottles. In 2019, approximately 32.2million tonnes of glass bottles and 3.3 million tonnes of PET bottles were not collected for recycling and ended up in landfills across Europe, China, the USA, Japan, and Brazil, compared with 800,000 tonnes of aluminium cans.?

The data highlights the stark contrast in landfill rates: only 21% of aluminium cans end up in landfills, compared to 49% of glass bottles and 39% of PET bottles (including landfill and marine litter). These figures emphasise the aluminium industry's superior performance in waste management and its crucial role in reducing environmental pollution.?

The efficiency of aluminium can recycling is further illustrated by the fact that 98% of recycled aluminium is transformed into products that can be recycled again. This contrasts sharply with glass (60%) and PET (20%), underscoring aluminium's potential for continuous recycling. Moreover, one out of every three aluminium cans is back on the shelf within as little as 60 days, facilitating a rapid and efficient recycling loop. The closed-loop recycling rate for aluminium cans (cans recycled back into cans versus cans put on the market), where the material is recycled into the same product, stands at 33%, the highest among beverage containers.??

The success of aluminium can recycling is particularly evident in regions with well-established recycling infrastructures. Many countries in Western and Northern Europe boast recycling rates exceeding 80%, showcasing the effectiveness of comprehensive recycling programs and supportive policies. In the United States, 46.1% of aluminium beverage cans consumed were used as feedstock material for recyclers in 2019, with 92.6% of this amount used to manufacture new cans.??

Recycling aluminium cans offers substantial environmental benefits, primarily through significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling 630 billion aluminium cans annually could save approximately 60 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions, making a substantial contribution to global climate change mitigation efforts.?

Furthermore, the recycling process for aluminium generally is highly energy-efficient, requiring only 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminium from raw materials. This energy efficiency translates to reduced environmental impact and lower production costs, reinforcing the economic viability of recycling aluminium cans.?

Aluminium cans present a compelling case for sustainable beverage packaging, driven by their high recycling rates, efficient recycling processes and significant environmental benefits. As global consumption of aluminium cans continues to rise, enhancing recycling infrastructure and policies will be crucial in maximising their sustainable value. By leveraging the inherent recyclability of aluminium, we can significantly reduce environmental pollution, conserve natural resources and contribute to a more sustainable future.?

?At COP28, ten companies called for greater commitment from national governments and the aluminium beverage can value chain industry to accelerate beverage can recycling rates, with at least 80 per cent target by 2030 and near 100 per cent by 2050. At New York Climate Week the same ten companies formulated a mission, vision, commitment and strategy to achieve the target.??

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