Aluminum Cans: The Sustainable Packaging Choice – Part 1

According to a new report released by the Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Institute of Recycling Industries (ISRI), aluminum cans are today the most recycled and highest value beverage container on the market today. The new report was released ahead of the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer, during which time can shipments typically increase by as much as 20% over other months.

In the first of a series of entries, we’ll take a look at how the aluminum can is impacting recycling today.

Industry Recycling Rate

The aluminum industry recycling rate, which measures the amount of used aluminum can scrap, including imported and exported cans, that get recycled as a percentage of U.S. shipments was essentially flat in 2014 at 66.5 percent.  This reflects more than 59 million cans recycled and marks the fourth year in a row the rate has held near historically high levels.

(Imagery courtesy of the Aluminum Association)