Sustainability

Ethically-minded consumers trying to do the right thing can easily be misled in their pursuits.

More is Less.pdf

Aluminium can be recycled over and over and over again without loss of properties. The high value of aluminium scrap is a key incentive and major economic impetus for recycling

Aluminium scrap is collected and melted everywhere in the world.

The aluminium economy is a circular economy. Indeed, for most aluminium products, alumin­ium is not actually consumed during a lifetime, but simply used. Therefore, the life cycle of an alumini­um product is not the traditional "cradle-to-grave" sequence, but rather a renewable "cradle-to-cradle".

If for example a country decides not to separate such material but incinerate it as part of municipal waste, followed by sorting the incineration ash, the aluminium, because of its thickness and physical properties, can be separated and recycled.

Generally the energy required for the production of packaging is only a small percentage compared to the total energy used to produce and supply the final product. If the final product is spoiled due to inadequate packaging material much more energy is wasted than needed to produce the packaging. The aluminium barrier properties in flexible packaging is of special importance as it helps to prevent spoilage of food and pharmaceutical products, for instance, and therefore contributes to the food supply and health of the world's population.

For the full article please read: http://www.world-aluminium.org/cache/fl0000181.pdf