Earth Day: Aluminum is still one of the most recyclable metals out there

Earth Day’s a good time to take a step back and look at the real-world materials that make sustainability work. In our industry, aluminum’s story stands out. It’s one of the only materials that can be recycled over and over without losing quality. And it’s not just talk: about 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. That’s not greenwashing. That’s just math.

When people think of recycling, they picture cans – and that’s fair. A used beverage can (UBC) can go from a recycling bin back to the shelf in about 60 days. But the metal’s reach is way bigger than that. Auto, aerospace, and construction are all using more aluminum, and a lot of that demand is being met with scrap.