09-30-2020, 08:43 AM
Increased attention to the social and environmental impacts of products and services is changing the way consumers are viewing their purchases. 81% of global consumers believe that companies should take steps to improve the environment, according to a report by Nielson Holdings.
As a result, many companies are adopting sustainable packaging to show their commitment to preserving the environment. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo announced this year that they would be rolling out water packaged in aluminum cans to cut down on plastic waste.
Aluminum packaging has also garnered support from celebrities; Jason Mamoa announced in April 2019 that he would be partnering with Ball Corporation to produce a line of aluminum-canned water called Mananalu.
While aluminum packaging can certainly reduce the demand for single-use plastic bottles and containers, is it the definitive solution to sustainable packaging?
The answer, as it turns out, is complicated.
Why is Aluminum an Appealing Option for Sustainable Packaging?
The environmental appeal of aluminum is due primarily to its recyclability. In addition to being 100% recyclable, aluminum can also be recycled indefinitely without a significant reduction in quality. Most food-grade plastics, on the other hand, are ‘downcycled,’ as their quality degrades with each recycling process.
Almost 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today, says the Aluminum Association. By contrast, only 9% of plastics ever produced have been through the recycling process.
Additionally, recycling aluminum is relatively easy compared to plastics. Unlike plastic packaging, aluminum products do not need to undergo complicated sorting before recycling. Additionally, the energy consumed during the aluminum recycling process is significantly less than that for plastics, leading to lower recycling costs and reduced carbon emissions.
Aluminum Packaging Concerns
Shifting to aluminum packaging can help reduce the demand for plastic; however, this switch creates a new problem – an increased demand for virgin aluminum. While aluminum recycling is an energy-efficient process, the production of new aluminum is energy-intensive and environmentally destructive.
Aluminum smelting results in the production of harmful byproducts such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The production of 1 ton of aluminum can result in 5 tons of liquid waste, which can pollute soils and groundwater.
To reap the sustainable rewards of using aluminum, companies like Coca Cola and PepsiCo must ensure their investments are directed mostly toward recycled aluminum as opposed to virgin aluminum.
Also, while some new aluminum cans will get recycled, others often end up in the trash. More than $700 million worth of aluminum cans are sent to landfills every year in the U.S. alone. Therefore, the push towards aluminum packaging needs to be complemented with the necessary recycling infrastructure to promote recycling and divert discarded aluminum away from landfills.
The shift toward aluminum packaging for the purposes of sustainability is complicated. Aluminum can provide numerous environmental benefits, but only if recycled materials are used in preference to new aluminum and plastics. While this material may not be the ultimate solution to sustainable packaging, it can help bring focus to the environmental impacts associated with a product’s entire lifecycle, instead of only what happens after disposal.
As a result, many companies are adopting sustainable packaging to show their commitment to preserving the environment. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo announced this year that they would be rolling out water packaged in aluminum cans to cut down on plastic waste.
Aluminum packaging has also garnered support from celebrities; Jason Mamoa announced in April 2019 that he would be partnering with Ball Corporation to produce a line of aluminum-canned water called Mananalu.
While aluminum packaging can certainly reduce the demand for single-use plastic bottles and containers, is it the definitive solution to sustainable packaging?
The answer, as it turns out, is complicated.
Why is Aluminum an Appealing Option for Sustainable Packaging?
The environmental appeal of aluminum is due primarily to its recyclability. In addition to being 100% recyclable, aluminum can also be recycled indefinitely without a significant reduction in quality. Most food-grade plastics, on the other hand, are ‘downcycled,’ as their quality degrades with each recycling process.
Almost 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today, says the Aluminum Association. By contrast, only 9% of plastics ever produced have been through the recycling process.
Additionally, recycling aluminum is relatively easy compared to plastics. Unlike plastic packaging, aluminum products do not need to undergo complicated sorting before recycling. Additionally, the energy consumed during the aluminum recycling process is significantly less than that for plastics, leading to lower recycling costs and reduced carbon emissions.
Aluminum Packaging Concerns
Shifting to aluminum packaging can help reduce the demand for plastic; however, this switch creates a new problem – an increased demand for virgin aluminum. While aluminum recycling is an energy-efficient process, the production of new aluminum is energy-intensive and environmentally destructive.
Aluminum smelting results in the production of harmful byproducts such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The production of 1 ton of aluminum can result in 5 tons of liquid waste, which can pollute soils and groundwater.
To reap the sustainable rewards of using aluminum, companies like Coca Cola and PepsiCo must ensure their investments are directed mostly toward recycled aluminum as opposed to virgin aluminum.
Also, while some new aluminum cans will get recycled, others often end up in the trash. More than $700 million worth of aluminum cans are sent to landfills every year in the U.S. alone. Therefore, the push towards aluminum packaging needs to be complemented with the necessary recycling infrastructure to promote recycling and divert discarded aluminum away from landfills.
The shift toward aluminum packaging for the purposes of sustainability is complicated. Aluminum can provide numerous environmental benefits, but only if recycled materials are used in preference to new aluminum and plastics. While this material may not be the ultimate solution to sustainable packaging, it can help bring focus to the environmental impacts associated with a product’s entire lifecycle, instead of only what happens after disposal.