Metal Recycling

Aluminum is central to our sustainability strategy, which puts us in a strong position, thanks to the material鈥檚 inherent environmentally friendly credentials.
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large stacks of metal bundles compacted for recycling

In addition to being the most recycled beverage package on the planet, beverage cans feature the most recycled content on average compared to other formats. Aluminum also offers the highest economic value among competing substrates. With these benefits, it is no wonder why 80% of all aluminum ever produced is still available for use today. A key differentiator with cans is that they are not only recyclable in theory, but they are actually recycled in practice. Consumers recycle aluminum cans at a rate of 69% on average, globally鈥攎ore than double the rate that they recycle plastic bottles. In Europe, recycling rates exceed 76%, and in Brazil, numbers remain significantly higher than other substrates, at a near-100%. Yet, consumers can lack access to recycling infrastructure both publicly and privately and are often unaware of proper recycling measures or assume their recycled goods still end up in landfills. Therefore, many people do not recycle properly, keeping metal sustainability and other non plastic packaging solutions from reaching their full potential for recycling efficacy, particularly in the U.S.

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Graphic showing how a can gets recycled into a new can in 60 days with 8 steps

If you have ever wondered how the recycling process works, here is a brief overview:

  • Cans are sorted and baled at a material recovery facility (MRF). MRFs are where all single stream recyclables are sorted. They are typically sorted out with the use of an eddy current and then ba