Designing for a circular economy is necessary, not easy

Creating a completely circular economy for every material flow may not be possible, but we move closer to a sustainable future every time we reduce waste within a cycle. The first step is to understand your materials. Aluminium is a great example to illustrate the complex landscape of sustainability.

Aluminium is the third-most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen and silicon, and is the most widely used non-ferrous metal. Metals are “permanent materials” with inherent properties that do not change during use. Recycling does not necessarily require addition of any primary material or additives.