Aluminum cans are 26% of the global beverage container market. They are lightweight, durable, 100% recyclable indefinitely and provide a very effective barrier against light and oxygen, giving beverages a long shelf life.

Aluminum is not a renewable resource but it is plentiful. Aluminum comes from bauxite, the third most abundant metal element in the earth’s crust. It takes significant amounts of energy (in North America 67% is from renewable hydropower sources) to convert bauxite to aluminum. Recycling aluminum reduces not only the need for additional natural resources but also significantly decreases the energy required to make aluminum and the environmental impact of the aluminum manufacturing process.

More information about aluminum can recycling can be found on the Can Central website.

Lightweighting

Since we first began manufacturing aluminum cans in 1969, light weighting has been a fundamental part of our business for economic and environmental reasons. The size of the end (lid) diameter has been reduced five times, saving substantial amounts of aluminum each time. Our newest can end uses over 10% less aluminum per end than its predecessor. The amount of aluminum used for the can body has continually been reduced over the years as well. Today’s 12-ounce aluminum can package uses about 40% less aluminum than in 1970 – from about 22 to 34 cans per pound today.

 Aluminum and Sustainability Facts:

• Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable infinitely.
• The 2008 U.S. recycling rate was 54%, the highest rate for any beverage container.
• Average post consumer recycled content in an aluminum can is 44% - the highest of any beverage container.
• The 12 oz. can and end package is approximately 40% lighter than in 1970. 
• Cans are the lightest weight beverage container - at 34 cans per pound they enable savings in shipping and handling costs through the entire supply chain.
• Using recycled aluminum requires 95% less energy and generates 95% less greenhouse gas emissions than producing can sheet material from bauxite ore.
• The energy saved by recycling just one aluminum can will power a TV for 3 hours.
• Aluminum helps subsidize municipal recycling - the scrap value for the aluminum can (per pound) is higher than anything else in the curbside recycling bin. 
• It takes as few as 60 days to turn empty cans in the recycling bin into new cans on retailers’ shelves.