Increasing aluminum can recycling rate to 90%
would generate $6.6B for the U.S.
economy, add more than 100,000 jobs, keep 1.3M tons of aluminum out of landfills and reduce
annual greenhouse gas emissions by 12.1M metric tons of CO2e
WESTMINSTER, Colo. and ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 30,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ball Corporation
(NYSE: BLL) and Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), a sustainable
material and resource consulting firm, released a new nationwide
study showing the economic and environmental benefits of improving
the aluminum can recycling rate in the
United States to 90% – an increase from the current rate of
38%. Infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, aluminum is
among the most sustainable beverage packaging materials, and when
recycled, uses 92% less energy than virgin material and supports
increased supply of domestic recycled metal.
In 2021, Ball Corporation released its vision for increased
circularity across the industry in the Towards a Perfect Circle
Report (2021). The report details a vision for the industry to
achieve a 90% global recycling rate of aluminum. The new study from
RRS and Ball Corporation demonstrates the environmental and
economic impact of achieving this goal in the U.S.
The new study entitled "Recycling Aluminum Cans Is Good
Business" indicates that a substantial improvement of the U.S.
aluminum recycling rate would provide the following benefits:
- Contribute 103,800 jobs in collection, sorting, and
reprocessing to the U.S. economy;
- More than double total waste collection and recycling industry
wages from $2.1 billion to
$5 billion;
- Generate $1.6 billion in economic
activity through material sales;
- Keep 1.3 million tons of materials out of landfills each
year;
- Save enough energy to power 1.5 million homes for a year;
and
- Reduce GHG emissions by 12.1 million MTCO2e annually –
equivalent to taking 2.6 million cars off the road for a year.
"There is no question the market for more recycled aluminum is
there, and so is the potential for huge energy savings and job
creation," said John Hayes,
chairman of Ball Corporation. "That's why we're advocating for
smart recycling policies at the state and federal level that can
help the U.S. reduce our dependence on imported materials,
strengthen our domestic supply chain and make these benefits a
reality."
"The benefits of increasing aluminum recycling rates in this
country are very clear," said Marisa
Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS. "Now it's up to leaders
at the state and federal level to develop a policy roadmap for
making the most of this opportunity."
The "Recycling Aluminum Cans Is Good Business" analysis, was
compiled using 2021 data sourced from the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), Aluminum Association and Ball Corporation. The
analysis also demonstrates how improved recycling enhances our
nation's domestic supply chain of aluminum and decreases our
reliance on primary aluminum imports. The study includes factsheets
and data for all 50 states, in addition to a national snapshot.
RRS used state recycling rate data from the 50 States of
Recycling Report (2021) to determine baselines. Notably, while the
Aluminum Association has reported a 45.2% consumer recycling rate
for aluminum cans, the RRS analysis uses 38% as the national
baseline to reflect the percentage of aluminum that actually makes
it to remelting facilities, after material losses that occur during
collection and sorting. Unfortunately, collection and recycling are
not synonymous. As detailed in Ball Corporation's Towards a Perfect
Circle Report (2021), boosting collection rates exponentially
increases the amount of recycled material that is kept in the loop
over the long term.
View and download the national and state-specific fact sheets
here.
About RRS
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in
Ann Arbor, Michigan, Resource
Recycling Systems (RRS) is a sustainability and recycling
consulting firm that strives to create a world where resources are
managed to maximize economic and social benefit while minimizing
environmental harm. The firm has industry professionals, engineers,
economists, technical analysts, and communication specialists who
share this vision and possess core strengths in materials and
recovery, life cycle management, applied sustainable design, and
collaborative action development. www.recycle.com
About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies
innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage,
personal care and household products for customers, as well as
aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the
U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ
24,300 people worldwide and reported 2021 net sales of $13.8 billion. For more information, visit
www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains
"forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial
performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates,"
"believes," and similar expressions typically identify
forward-looking statements, which are generally any statements
other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based
on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to
risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events
to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should
therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking
statements and they should be read in conjunction with, and
qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements
referenced below. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key factors,
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and
results to be different are summarized in filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our
Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov.
Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments
include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and
fluctuations and changes in consumption patterns; availability/cost
of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging,
pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint
adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup
of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies,
productivity improvements or cost reductions; unfavorable mandatory
deposit or packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation;
power and supply chain interruptions; changes in major customer or
supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier;
inability to pass through increased costs; war, political
instability and sanctions, including relating to the situation in
Russia and Ukraine and its impact on our supply chain and
our ability to operate in Russia
and the EMEA region generally; changes in foreign exchange or tax
rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental actions,
including business restrictions and shelter-in-place orders in any
country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by us or in our
supply chain, including imported raw materials; b) our aerospace
segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of
government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and
technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the Company
as a whole include those listed above plus: the extent to which
sustainability-related opportunities arise and can be capitalized
upon; changes in senior management, succession, and the ability to
attract and retain skilled labor; regulatory actions or issues
including those related to tax, ESG reporting, competition,
environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and
other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our
containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in
the manufacturing process; technological developments and
innovations; the ability to manage cyber threats; litigation;
strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes; inflation; rates of
return on assets of the Company's defined benefit retirement plans;
pension changes; uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events and
governmental policies, including policies, orders, and actions
related to COVID-19; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting
our debt; and successful or unsuccessful joint ventures,
acquisitions and divestitures, and their effects on our operating
results and business generally.
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SOURCE Ball Corporation