True Potential Of Aluminum

According to numerous studies and agreed upon by experts in the field, aluminum cans are rated as having the highest sustainability compared to every other packaging on the planet. At Hi20 we have realized the true potential of aluminum when it comes to our planet’s health and also economic prosperity.

Aluminum Recycling Studies:

Firstly, the industry recycling rate is one of the highest of any materials on the planet. In 2016 it was reported that the industry recycled approx. 57 billion cans. This equates to a recycling rate of 63.9%, saving a massive number of foreign objects entering landfills and polluting our planet. Next, when examining consumer recycling rates, we observe the highest numbers when compared to glass and plastic. Aluminum cans are still the most recycled beverage container in the World with clear advantages over glass and plastic.

One Unique aspect of aluminum cans is the fact that they are recycled “back into themselves”. This means that they have an extremely high percentage of recycled content, three times that of glass and plastic. The EPA estimates that 70 percent of an aluminum can is recyclable unto itself directly and it takes only a miniscule 8 percent energy output to produce aluminum from recycled material. This is an extremely strong indicator of the aluminum cans very small environmental footprint.

Lastly, the value of aluminum helps municipalities fund recycling programs and garbage pickups. Since so much of the value of aluminum cans is retained after recycling, governments rely on reselling this aluminum. Aluminum scrap is wroth approx. $1200 per ton where plastic is worth only approx. $220 per ton.