The role of aluminum in the challenge of circular economy
One of the main goal of every person and company is to reduce the consumption of resources and emissions. That’s why the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy has become necessary.
According to the model of linear economy, raw materials are used to manufacture products, which are consumed and subsequently disposed of as a waste. Unfortunately this economy cannot be defined as a sustainable model anymore. That’s why today it’s necessary to apply a new economic system defined circular, because it is based on the reuse of materials and the transformation of waste into a real resource.
Aluminium in circular economy
Aluminum can be defined as the most circular material. Being infinitely and 100% recyclable, it can be transformed reusing again the material into the production cycle.
Through recycling and melting, aluminum waste, coming from production and post-consumer, is reused in order to produce new raw material. Very important to say is that aluminum do not lose its quality, after this process. In this way, recycled aluminum is not different from what obtained by the original mineral (bauxite) and its main characteristics remain unchanged.
Yet, through the recycling of aluminum, 95% of the energy needed to produce it starting from the mineral is saved. In particular, 16 kW /h is required to obtain 1 kg of aluminum from the bauxite, while 0.4 kW /h is required for the production of 1 kg of new aluminum from waste.