Aluminium saves more energy than it uses

Aluminium is a green metal, despite its silvery appearance. It can be recycled more easily than any other metal and has a natural place in the sustainable society. In Sweden, nine out of ten aluminium cans today are recycled which is a world record and, in principle, all aluminium should be recycled in the future.

Although a substantial amount of energy is required to produce aluminium, the subsequent use of aluminium saves much more energy than was employed in the original production. This is due not only to the fact that the material has an extremely long life: the low weight also saves energy directly. A car with a high proportion of aluminium weighs less and uses less fuel. Aluminium packaging is lighter, and thus requires less energy for road or rail transport than glass or steel packaging.

In addition, aluminium has superior protection qualities. Failing to protect foodstuffs and fresh goods in the best possible way represents a major waste of resources.

The electrical conductivity of the material also saves energy. The use of aluminium in power lines reduces energy losses, while aluminium heat exchangers are unsurpassed energy-savers, as a result of their high efficiency in combination with low weight.

In contrast to primary production, secondary production of aluminium only requires a modest energy input, amounting to about 5 per cent.
As more aluminium is recycled, Kubal´s energy savings increase.