4 Key Environmental Benefits of Aluminum Packaging Over Conventional Plastics

In recent years, we’ve seen a distinct increase in the number of businesses looking to become more sustainable in a variety of different ways. Whether this is through energy efficiency, carbon offsetting, or in this instance, sustainable packaging, businesses around the globe are taking the necessary steps to be greener and more sustainable.

When it comes to packaging, aluminum has quickly emerged as a viable solution in terms of sustainability, convenience, and even cost-effectiveness. Best of all, is the fact that it can be used across a wide range of different industries ranging from construction and retail to cosmetics and food manufacturing.

For as long as most of us can remember, plastic has been the go-to material when it comes to packaging. While it is still commonly used by businesses worldwide, the good news is that it is gradually being phased out in favor of greener options, including aluminum.

Regardless of your business and the produce you provide, if you’re looking for a sustainable packaging option to replace plastic, aluminum could be the perfect choice.

Here’s a look at several key environmental benefits of aluminum packaging over conventional plastics.

Aluminum Packaging is Lighter in Weight

When people think of sustainability and eco-friendliness, how much certain types of packaging actually weigh generally isn’t taken into consideration. In reality, however, it can make an enormous difference, especially when it comes to reducing carbon footprints.

Plastic materials weigh more than aluminum, which results in an increase in emissions via transportation. The heavier something is, the more fuel it requires for transport, and the more pollution this will produce, or in the case of electric vehicles, the more electricity it will require.

As well as the above, because it is lighter in weight, it can help customers and businesses alike to save money on shipping, while also helping to lower carbon footprints in the process. It really is a win-win, all from being lighter in weight.

Prolonged Shelf Lives

While aluminum packaging is used in a wide range of different industries, it is proving especially popular industries specializing in food and drink, cosmetics, medical products, and things of that nature.

There are heaps of reasons for this, though primarily, one of the primary reasons is down to aluminum’s preservative qualities.

Aluminum has been shown to provide a fantastic protective barrier against sunlight, oxygen, moisture, bacteria, temperature fluctuations, and other microorganisms that could cause produce to spoil and turn bad. This is especially important with food and drink, as not only does it help the produce to preserve its flavor and nutritional value, it helps to ensure that it’s safe and healthy for human consumption.

Cosmetics can also benefit from the packaging, as it exposure to moisture, temperature changes, and direct sunlight can also affect them, effectively rendering them useless.

Aluminum is therefore considered far more effective than plastic, due to its natural preservative properties, making it the material of choice for a variety of different businesses.

Aluminum Can Be Recycled Indefinitely

When talking about the environmental benefits of aluminum packaging over conventional plastic packaging, you simply cannot overlook the fact that aluminum can be recycled indefinitely.

Despite more plastic packaging now being recyclable, not all plastics can be recycled, and when they can, they can’t be recycled indefinitely. On average, plastic packaging can be recycled up to 10 times, though some plastic materials can only be recycled once or twice. Each year, around 9% of plastic is recycled, with the remainder being converted to energy and sent to landfill. For businesses looking to be carbon neutral, it simply isn’t enough.

On the other hand, after being recycled, aluminum will never degrade or break down like plastic, which means that it can be recycled indefinitely. Not only that, but producing packaging made from recycled aluminum requires more than 95% less energy than producing a material from new. This makes it a far greener, more sustainable packaging choice than plastic.

Aluminum is Much Safer than Plastic

Finally, for business dealing with consumable products, health and safety is a primary concern, which is yet another reason why aluminum is such a popular choice over plastic.

For consumables such as food and drink, food-safe aluminum is a much safer, far healthier option than plastic. Plastics have been found to leach hazardous materials such as phthalates, BPAs, and other microplastics into food and drink, which then make their way into our bodies once we consume them. Just like in nature, they don’t degrade or break down once inside us. In fact, shockingly, studies have found microplastics in human semen, which could then have adverse effects on human reproductive health.

With aluminum packaging however, there is no risk of contamination from microplastics and other harmful substances because it is a natural, non-reactive, sterile, non-toxic material. When you add to this, the fact that it helps to preserve food and drink like we looked at earlier, you can see firsthand just how effective it really is as a safe and sustainable packaging option.