Altemira has introduced a groundbreaking and sustainable model for the aluminium industry called the Can-to-Can cycle. This innovative approach revolutionizes how aluminium cans are recycled, paving the way for a more environmentally friendly future. Altemira ensures that the environmental impact of the production process is minimized from the outset.
Altemira is a vertically integrated aluminium can, rolling, foil and extrusion business company. The company strives to be a leading company that continues to create new value and promote changes by constantly pursuing world-class technologies, products, and services.
Teruaki Nakatsuka, the President of Altemira, said, “Aluminium cans have proven to be highly advantageous. Our can-to-can cycle commences at Altemira, where we proudly manufacture aluminium cans. Once a can reaches its end, it enters our recycling process, efficiently managed by our subsidiary, Altemira Techno Solutions. They meticulously handle the recycling procedures and supply the recycled material to MA Aluminum. The team at MA Aluminum undertakes the critical steps of melting, casting, and rolling the material. Our ability to seamlessly execute the entire process within our group sets us apart in the industry.”
“In contrast, Toyo Seikan (a Japan-based packaging container manufacturing company) recently announced its intention to embark on a similar can-to-can process. However, their approach involves multiple companies, and their recycling capacity needs to be significantly higher. Altamira boasts a unique position due to the substantial scale of our project and the fact that all aspects are streamlined under a single company.”
It enters the consumption phase after the aluminium is transformed into various products, such as beverage cans. Here, Altemira actively promotes recycling initiatives, raising awareness among consumers about the importance of proper waste disposal and the benefits of aluminium recycling. By encouraging responsible consumption habits, Altemira aims to maximize the recovery of aluminium products at the end of their lifecycle.
Japan's aluminium cans recycling ratio is around 70 per cent, which is way higher than in any other country. Japan is excellent at material segregation when it comes to recycling; children are taught how to do it at a very young age. Recycling systems are well established.
He added, "Therefore, we can collect good quality cans. We have furnaces to melt what we call UBC, which stands for used beverage cans. After that, the cans are recycled and reproduced. This is a big appealing point for our company. Let's take the production process using UBC scrap versus primary aluminium ingots. There is probably a 40 per cent difference in CO2 reduction. The plan is to announce our carbon-neutral policy on our website, which may be coming in May 2023."
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