The aluminum can fulfills every requirement of sustainability and yields a low environmental impact. In addition to conserving energy, recycling protects precious resources and minimizes consumer and production waste.
Consider these important facts about beverage can recycling:
- As the only packaging solution that is 100 percent recyclable, the aluminum can’s 65 percent recycling rate is the highest for any beverage package.
- The typical can is comprised of more than 68 percent recycled aluminum. This high recycling rate helps reduce the energy used to produce U.S. aluminum by nearly 50 percent.
- Steel and aluminum cans are 100% recyclable, forever, with an optimized 60 day bin-to-shelf turnaround. Aluminum is a permanent material that will be in use forever as long as we keep it out of landfills.
- Recycled cans require 95 percent less energy, generate 95 percent less emissions and create 97 percent less water pollution than generating new metal from ore.