Aluminum’s Key Role In Sustainability by Stephen Gardner (NAPSA)—Whenthe aluminum industry launched beveragecan recycling over 30 years ago, it was an idea whose time had come. And today, with more environmentally conscious companies out there working for consumers who are demanding more and more products made from recycled materials, aluminum is once again helping to lead the way. Consider the following: There is no limit to the number of times an aluminum can can be recycled. At current rates, one year of aluminum can recycling is equal to taking nearly 1.5 million cars off the road for one year. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for nearly four hours or keep a TV running for three hours. A can that is recycled can be back on the store shelf in aslittle as 60 days. Recycled aluminum requires 95 percent less energy than primary aluminum, generates 95 percent less emissions and creates 97 percent less water pollution than generating new metal. Recycling is just one of the many ways that aluminumis sustainable. Not just cans are recycled—valuable aluminum is recovered from demolished buildings and recycled, too. Automakers are increasingly using strong, light- weight aluminum in their automobiles to increase gas mileage. When a caris at the end of its road, the aluminum is recycled here as well. In fact, 75 percent of all the aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Photo credit: Rexam An aluminum canthatis recycled can be back on thestore shelf in aslittle as 60 days. “Recycling and sustainability have long been part of the ethic and culture of the aluminum industry,” said Steve Larkin, president of the Aluminum Association. “Recycled aluminum uses only 5 percent of the energy that you need to produce new, primary aluminum.” The United Nations defined sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Aluminum fits that definition. From our workplace safety record, to our commitment to the communities in which weoperate, to the flexible, versatile and recyclable material that is aluminum, aluminum is sustainable. Stephen Gardner is vice president of communications at the Aluminum Association. The Association works to educate the public about the benefits of aluminum as a sustainable material. To learn more, visit www.alum inum.org or call (703) 358-2960.
