RECYCLING PROCESSES THAT REALLY WORK
There is no point in putting a lot of effort into collection and sorting if we then lose up to 20 to 30% of the material during the recycling process. This happens with some materials, but not with aluminum cans, which simply have to be remelted at 700 degrees Celsius.
Only around 1 to 2% of aluminum is lost when shredding the bales, and another 2 to 3% due to oxidation in the furnace. Total metal losses in the recycling process can be between 3 to 5%. When factoring in the recycling rate and the material losses in recycling, it is clear that, as we move toward near 100% collection, yields really matter. Once again, this demonstrates the true advantages of the aluminum can.
We believe there is an opportunity to increase can-to-can recycling. Today the remelted aluminum from used beverage cans is also used to make other aluminum products such as cars, building products or less recyclable packaging. As recycling rates increase and contamination decreases (e.g., through DRS), there will be greater opportunities to ensure that cans are recycled back into cans. We see this as an inherent competitive advantage of our material. Already the average recycled content in cans today far outweighs any other substrate.
BALL'S RECYCLING CAN CHALLENGE
Employee efforts in 2019 led directly to more than 31 metric tons of aluminum being collected and recycled. During the year, employee participation rates in our global Recycling Can Challenge campaign rose by 13% compared with 2018. Uptake of the campaign, which aims to inspire employees to take extra steps to promote the economic, environmental and social benefits of cans, was especially strong in Asia, Middle East and Africa. In total we invested more than $100,000 globally through our Recycling Can Challenge to help plants with their local efforts – a 20% increase on 2018.