Ellie Gabel discusses the benefits, challenges and future possibilities of circulating aluminum in driving a sustainable economy and reducing dependence on plastics.
Aluminum has gained a reputation as one of the most environmentally friendly materials on the planet.
Given the existing infrastructure, it is highly recyclable and one of the most accessible. Its fees are impressive, but many industrial experts have questioned whether plastic is enough to fight the dominant world.
What are the facts and numbers about circular aluminum? Also, is it enough to convince industry stakeholders of the transition?
The advantages of aluminum
The greatest appeal to aluminum is its infinite recyclability, perfectly consistent with cyclical economic principles. Even after decomposition and reinsertion, it does not lose its properties.
Other materials lack these properties, including plastic. Many factors prevent ideal recyclables, such as progressive deterioration, microplastic production, loss of durability, and formulation dispersion that prevents 100% recyclables.
High temperatures are required to produce virgin aluminum, but remanufactured and recycled alternatives only require 5% of electricity. Dramatic reductions will reduce emissions from related industries, reduce carbon footprints, and drive the achievement of global climate targets.
Finally, aluminum has some of the most common recycling infrastructure on the planet. The circular economy can embrace other sustainable or renewable technologies, but requires minimal facilities to process the collected resources.
Utilizing what society already has is essential to mitigate the transition to sustainable energy and material consumption.
The current aluminum economy
The metal values of aluminum shift based on several factors, including geography, availability, and timing.
For example, in the Midwest, we see relatively stable figures, but rely on the day and cash value. Markets are important to pay attention as accessibility directly affects the willingness of a company to use as a key resource.
Cheap and reliable supplies alleviate the potential drawbacks currently present in the aluminum industry.
This includes the average recycling rate. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, but the rates need to be higher. This, despite its reputation, has reached 76% worldwide recycling efficiency.
Many available materials still end in landfills, reducing the life cycle they may have. Furthermore, widespread adoption of lesser products of downcycling aluminum can prevent businesses from using strong materials for more intensive purposes.
The collection economy has another influence on the circular success story of aluminum. Many single stream recycling efforts delegate responsibility to consumers, but capturing and sorting aluminum requires more intervention and decomposition, especially for complex items such as electronics.
Without these complications, many aluminum components are either useless or too expensive to handle.
I know the drawbacks of aluminum
Aluminum has other value chain obstacles that prevent it from becoming the planet’s default material. Bauxite mining has a controversial image because it is energy-intensive and destructive.
This association could delay some companies from adopting aluminum entirely because the materialized emissions are so important. These values still convert to recycled aluminum, but their negative effects are less after multiple uses.
However, using the same aluminum is difficult to achieve repeatedly, especially with alloys. Their complexity requires specific equipment and must be acquired by many recyclers.
The way different products are processed is very dramatically different, which can become a fundraising issue for organizations.
Aluminum will advance the circular economy
As waste is becoming one of the most challenging environmental concerns on the planet, society needs to fight against the normalization of plastic products.
Approximately 15,000 pieces of plastic enter the waterway every day, with a total of 46,000 pieces in a square mile of ocean. Despite the industrial and cultural deterrent of circular aluminum, there are ways to encourage adoption over time.
Increase collection rates: Use incentive programs to promote better expansion producer responsibility from businesses and encourage public interest. Make sorting technology more effective: Invest in research to enhance existing sorting equipment to become more accurate and efficient. Designed Aluminum for Recycled Infrastructure: Convince manufacturers to design aluminum products in a way that is compatible with recycled machines. Law advocates: Lobbying for government funding to advance more robust regulations, compliance, and circulation aluminium.
This initiative will culminate in the sector where non-ECO-friendly materials are replaced with upcycled aluminum, but only if sustainable leaders are promoting their knowledge.
For example, the automotive industry will only replace the body with circular aluminum if critical research shows how to improve fuel economy.
Similarly, the construction sector must assess the lifecycle and prove that the building’s facades last longer and maintain strength against corrosion.
As information spreads and awareness grows, more organizations are likely to participate in activities that promote advocacy and recruitment.
Circulation economy and its dependence on aluminum
The advantages of aluminum are clear, but the drawbacks prevent it from robbing the global empire of plastic.
As countries and businesses move towards circular economy practices, it will become more clear why the world needs supermaterials for a sustainable future.
Stakeholders must publicize the benefits of aluminum, particularly for the plastics economy, to normalize the transition and improve recycling rates, infrastructure and adoption.
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