Aluminium and the Carbon economy

Aluminium packaging facts

160,000 tonnes of aluminium was used in packaging in the UK in 2010

• Over 99 per cent of aluminium packaging is primary consumer packaging, from the highly visible drinks can or takeaway container, through to the foil which wraps a bite-size chocolate, or the lid on a pot of yogurt.
• The most popular aluminium package is the drinks can – 90% of all drinks cans sold in the UK every year are made of aluminium.
• All plain or lacquered aluminium is 100% recyclable – time and time again.
• Ample reprocessing capacity and secure end-markets are available: In the UK a closed loop operates for drinks cans, which can be recycled, made into new cans, filled and put back on the shelf in just six weeks. Other plain aluminium packaging is recycled with mixed aluminium scraps and turned into a wide range of products.
• Most aluminium in composite packs will not be recycled, because the pack will have been sent for recycling to the reprocessor of the predominant material: for example drinks cartons containing a thin barrier layer of foil will usually go to the paper industry, and aluminium caps on glass bottles will go to the glass industry. However if the aluminium is separated during reprocessing, it can certainly be recycled.
• In 2010 the UK recycling rate for aluminium packaging was 42%
• The recycling rate for aluminium drinks cans was 55%

The Aluminium industry and sustainability

Further reading

• More information about Alupro and our members
• Alupro is currently running several programmes to boost metal packaging recycling on behalf of its members and partners in the industry.
• Every Can Counts is targeting the drinks cans used outside the home
• MetalMatters is encouraging participation in metal recycling at the kerbside
• New waste treatment technologies – increasing the recovery of aluminium from energy from waste and other new technologies