75% of all aluminium ever produced is currently still in productive use.

% in productive use
1950
2010
Aluminium in use in:
Buildings
Transport
Packaging
Machinery
Electrical Applications
Consumer Durables
Other Applications
Primary Aluminium
Produced since 1888

= 955,800,000 t

1990
2020

Aluminium recycling saves over 90 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

Recycling avoids the direct greenhouse gas emissions associated with primary aluminium production and up to 95% of the energy-related emissions.

Emissions savings from aluminium recycling have more than doubled since 1990 and are projected to increase by a further 50% by 2020.

Annual CO2 Savings from Recycling Aluminium Products
Energy required for
Primary Aluminium Production

Aluminium recycling requires up to 95% less energy than primary aluminium production.

Bauxite Mining
Alumina Refining
Anode Production
Aluminium Smelting
Ingot Casting
On average 170 GJ of primary energy (much of it in the form of electricity) is required to produce a tonne of primary aluminium.

A tonne of recycled aluminium requires
only 10 GJ.

Global aluminium recycling rates are high.*

*Beverage can recycling rates (2009)

Aluminium can be recycled over and over
again without any loss of quality.

IAI's ALUCYCLE microsite

The IAI's most comprehensive industry data set yet.

Regional Reports

Recycling stories from around the world

Sustainability

What can I do to increase recycling rates?

Kanada