Scrap Metals Supplement--A Can-Do Attitude

ENERGY EFFICIENCY. The CMI report cites a study conducted by the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), Pittsburgh, in July of 2005, that concludes that "canned foods offer a more energy efficient delivery system than either refrigerated or frozen food." Because canned foods do not rely on refrigeration to keep them fresh, chemical refrigerants such as hydrochloroflourocarbons are not a concern.

The SRI study (available online at www.steel.org), performed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) of Oakland, Calif., analyzed the energy consumption of refrigerated, frozen and canned food delivery systems, quantifying the energy requirements at every stage depending on the packaging used. The study concluded that the production and delivery of frozen foods consumes at least 50 percent more energy than that of canned foods, while refrigerated food production uses between 1 percent and 5 percent more energy that that of canned.

"Bottom line, the most efficient, convenient and nutritional delivery system of food to a dinner table is brought to the consumer though metal cans," Bill Heenan, SRI president is quoted as saying in the CMI packaging trends report. "Now we know that in addition to being the most recycled food packaging, cans are also a way for us to reduce greenhouse gases."

According to the CMI report, the aluminum can has also been contributing to a sustainable environment by being a recycling leader for more than 20 years. "Demonstrating recycling at its finest, the aluminum can is 100-percent recyclable into new beverage cans in as little as 60 days limitlessly." The report adds, "Fifty percent of the aluminum can is created from recycled cans—true closed-loop recycling."

The energy savings from recycling aluminum cans amounts to the equivalent of more than 15 million barrels of oil, according to the CMI report. "Reclaimed aluminum requires 95 percent less energy, generates 95 percent less emissions…and creates 97 percent less water pollution than producing new metal from ore," the report reads.

These energy savings are not unique to aluminum, but are also seen in steel manufacturing. Production of steel from recycled cans uses 75 percent less energy than steel produced from raw materials, according to the CMI report.

Innovations, such as lightweighting, have further improved the economic and energy efficiency of the can. "Since the 1970s, aluminum can weight has dropped from 55 pounds per thousand to 29.5 pounds per thousand today," according to the CMI. "Engineering has created new features like geometric optimization of the metal in the can walls, allowing the container to deliver its product using the least amount of materials. This also has led to improved cost competitiveness and enhanced unit market growth opportunities."

Metal cans not only provide an environmental advantage, they also provide an economic advantage, the CMI report asserts.

ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES. "Generally, packaging companies are facing higher raw material costs and new competition," according to the CMI report. Innovations, such as easy-open cans with pull-tab lids, those with resealable lids and self-heating steel cans, could provide the steel packaging industry with "the cost-effective boost they need to overcome cost challenges," according to the CMI.