The aluminium grade used in soda cans is highly relevant to the economics, efficiency, and sustainability of recycling. Soda cans are mainly made of 3004 and 3104 alloys of aluminum containing about 1% of manganese and 1% of magnesium, hence lightweight, corrosion resistant, and extremely recyclable. The global aluminum recycling percentage of drink cans stands at about 69%, much higher compared to plastic whose average recycling percentage stands at less than 9%.
Recycling aluminum cans requires a very high level of energy efficiency and it uses 95% less power than producing virgin aluminum from raw bauxite ore. The recycling of an aluminum can provides as much power as is utilized to light one 60-watt light for four hours. Recycling, then melting, a soda can within 60 days and returning the aluminum to market shelves is quickly done, as reported by the Aluminum Association.
Unlike plastic, which degrades its properties after each recycling stage, aluminum retains 100% of its original properties and can be recycled over and over without losing any quality. This is a closed loop, and that means nearly 75% of all the aluminum that has been produced is still in use today, creating enormous amounts of waste and environmental savings.
The 3004 and 3104 aluminum alloys’ structure also allows soda cans to be thin but durable, with an average thickness of just 0.097 mm, allowing manufacturers to produce cans without using much material wastefully. A 12-ounce aluminum can weighs about 14 grams, yet can withstand an internal pressure of up to 90 psi (pounds per square inch) in order to be able to contain carbonated beverages. This balance of material efficacy and strength makes aluminum the packaging material of choice for beverages.
Large beverage companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo employ high-recyclability aluminum alloys to reduce their environmental footprint. In 2022, Coca-Cola pledged to increase the percentage of recycled material in its aluminum cans to 50% by 2030, in alignment with global sustainability goals. Recycled aluminum demand from the beverage industry continues to grow as consumers become more environmentally conscious and governments implement policies to promote circular economy principles.
Nobel Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai once said, “The generation that destroys the environment is not the generation that pays the price.” The type of aluminum in soda cans directly impacts recycling efficiency, ensuring that aluminum remains a cost-effective, sustainable, and endlessly reusable packaging material. Recycling soda cans not only conserves natural resources but also significantly reduces carbon emissions, landfill waste, and overall energy consumption, making aluminum an essential component of sustainable manufacturing.