Aluminum Shines

The Arlington, Va.-based Aluminum Association works to promote aluminum as the most sustainable and recyclable material available for automotive, packaging and construction applications. The association, led by President J. Stephen Larkin, represents primary producers of aluminum, aluminum recyclers, semi-fabricated product producers and foundries in the U.S. and abroad, with its members operating nearly 200 plants in the U.S. alone.

The association’s programs and services seek to “enhance aluminum’s position in a world of proliferating materials; increase its use as the ‘material of choice;’ remove impediments to its fullest use;” and “assist in achieving the industry’s environmental, societal and economic objectives,” according to its website, www.aluminum.org.

Sustainability is an area of focus for the Aluminum Association, which launched a sustainability initiative in 2008 designed to increase recycling, energy-efficient product applications and the operating efficiency of aluminum producers. In May of this year, the Aluminum Association released a life-cycle study of the aluminum can that, according to the association, “validated its status as the world's most sustainable beverage container.” The study can be accessed at www.aluminum.org/lca.

According to a press release from the association announcing the study, “The independent study of aluminum cans, carried out by PE Americas, part of PE International, the international market leader in strategic consultancy, software solutions and extensive services in the field of sustainability, was undertaken in part to respond to Walmart’s packaging scorecard, which calls for its suppliers in all sectors to reduce their carbon footprint.”

The Aluminum Association says the study’s results confirmed “major reductions in the aluminum can’s carbon footprint and energy use” and were provided to The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Walmart.

“The data show that we are using significantly less material and less energy to produce same-size beverage cans as compared with 17 years ago,” Larkin says in the press release. “The aluminum industry has made tremendous gains in sustainability. The aluminum can is more sustainable than ever.”

Larkin addresses the issue of sustainability as well as the role recycling plays in aluminum production in the Q&A with Recycling Today that follows.

Recycling Today (RT): PE Americas recently completed a study for the Aluminum Association that examined the life cycle of the aluminum can. Can you tell me more about this study and what it revealed concerning aluminum as a sustainable material?

J. Stephen Larkin: First of all, cans are infinitely recyclable and the most sustainable beverage container choice.

The LCA (life cycle analysis) study for aluminum cans was the first such study in the U.S. in 17 years.

We found:

• Reduction in overall carbon footprint of 44 percent since 1993;
• 30 percent less energy usage;
• Reduction in package weight of 15 percent; [and]
• 68 percent total recycled content, the highest of any beverage package material.

These were all significant improvements and demonstrate our industry’s commitment to sustainability.

A related article in the August 2010 edition of Light Metal Age can give you more information about this study.

RT: Currently, in North America how much of our aluminum production is derived from secondary aluminum (scrap)? Where would the Aluminum Association like to see this in the next five to 10 years?

Larkin: In 2008, the North America aluminum supply was made up of about 52 percent domestic primary, 34 percent recycled materials and 14 percent imports, mostly from China. That said, about 50 percent of domestic recycled materials are exported. A reasonable goal would be to increase the use of recycled aluminum in North America to 50 percent.

RT: What are the aluminum industry and the Aluminum Association, specifically, doing to boost the recycling rate for the aluminum can from 54 percent to 75 percent?

Larkin: We are working with potential partners (other materials, other associations, beverage companies and others) to develop a long-term strategy for increasing recycling. We’re stepping up our communications around recycling and we fund a program called Curbside Value Partners (CVP) to increase curbside recycling.

RT: Why is recycling a growing concern for aluminum producers?

Larkin: Recycling aluminum is key to the continued economic health of the industry and key to our continued environmental improvement. Recycling is critical to lowering our environmental footprint. Recycling aluminum saves 95 percent of energy and more than 80 percent of other non-renewable resources, at the same time reducing more than 80 percent of environmental releases and emissions. It is a win-win situation for both the industry and society.

RT: Some of the association’s recent work highlighted the Sustainable Freight Transportation report and aluminum’s role in this area. Can you tell me more about this report and how aluminum can best be used in a sustainable freight network?

Larkin: The Sustainable Freight Transportation is an independent study commissioned by the Canadian Commission for Environmental Corp. (CEC). It assesses the environmental impacts of fright transportation in North America and evaluates opportunities for making it more sustainable. The Aluminum Association has worked with its counterparts in Canada and Mexico to explore opportunities for aluminum to be a significant material solution for sustainable freight transportation. Aluminum can be used as an excellent light-weighting material for commercial trucks and trailers and freight trains to reduce vehicle weight and, therefore, significantly reduce fuel and energy consumptions, increase per vehicle loads, save operation costs and reduce environmental releases and emissions.

RT: Can you tell me more about your Aluminum for Future Generations program? What is the overall goal of this program and how has it been progressing?

Larkin: Aluminum for Future Generations program is a global aluminum industry sustainability program managed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and in participation with major aluminum producers in the world, and the aluminum trade associations of major regions and areas, including the Aluminum Association. The overall goal of the program is to make aluminum a sustainable material for future generations. The program comprises 13 voluntary objectives covering all key phases of aluminum’s life cycle. Examples of the objectives include long-term elimination of perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions, reducing fluoride emissions, reducing smelting energy consumptions, reducing accident rates, implementing management systems for environment, health and safety, reducing water consumptions, etc. Significant progress has been achieved during the past 10 years. New objectives will be set from 2010.

RT: Is there one sector—automotive, packaging or construction—that holds the most promise for aluminum in the next five to 10 years? Why or why not?

Larkin: All of these sectors will be seeing significant growth potential as society pays more and more attention on the role of materials to sustainable development. Comparatively, transportation and building and construction hold the highest promises. All of the sectors will grow, but building and construction and transportation will grow the most.

RT: What are the primary challenges facing the aluminum industry and how is the association looking to address these issues?

Larkin: Tracking and understanding product recycling at the end of their service life is a great challenge for the industry. In fact, it is a great challenge for all material industries. The reason for this is that most aluminum products have a very long life span and, once the material is shipped out of our factories, a great number of stakeholders will be involved and it is not in the industry’s control any more. We understand that most products, over 80 percent, are recycled at the end of their service life but we don’t have clear documentation. In order to keep materials to be used by future generations, we need to have a better understanding of the recycling processes. This is the key area of aluminum sustainability other than reducing resource consumptions and environmental releases in our production facilities.

To address this, the association has initiated a sustainability initiative in 2008 and allocated resources to do scientific studies and increase cooperation with other industry partners and stakeholders. Progress has been made since then, but we consider this a long-term commitment.

Aluminum Association President J. Stephen Larkin can be contacted at slarkin@aluminum.org.