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"Cradle to cradle": aluminum's green value proposition.

Article Excerpt
THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER Dictionary defines the word "sustainable" as "of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged." A succinct definition, to be sure--and one that concisely captures the essence of aluminum's green value proposition.

Aluminum is one of nature's most plentiful metallic elements, comprising 8 percent of the earth's crust by weight. Depletion is thus not an issue. Further, the metal's essential properties make it resistant to the ravages of time, temperature and corrosion, giving it a virtually unparalleled life cycle as a product material. And, at the end of its product life, aluminum can be recycled infinitely, without degradation to its quality, and used anew.

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What's more, aluminum can be recycled using only 5 percent of the energy, and producing only 5 percent of the emissions, compared with aluminum made from virgin ore, providing "cradle-to-cradle" energy and environmental benefits that grow incrementally each time aluminum is recycled.

No doubt, aluminum makes a strong case as a green metal all by itself. So what has the aluminum industry done to enhance its environmental credentials?

Improved smelting practices

Reducing the energy intensity and emissions associated with primary operations has been a focus of the industry for many years. According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the average energy consumption per ton of aluminum production has fallen worldwide by 70 percent over the past 100 years. A century ago, smelters took roughly 28,000 kilowatt hours to produce a metric ton of aluminum from alumina. Today's smelters use only 13,000 kWh.

IAI further reports that in 2007, over...

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