Aluminium cans have a lower environmental impact than glass bottles: A study by University of Southampton

A new study accomplished by the University of Southampton exhibits a direction that aluminium cans have a lower environmental impact than glass bottles.

Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Sciences within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK and his team collated five types of pressurized drink containers. He computed the environmental impact of each of them, based on their contribution to climate change as well as the pollution they yield during their manufacturing process, their use and their disposal.

Perhaps it will come as a surprise: recycled aluminium cans are doing it with privileges. The metal used can be constantly recycled without the operation changing the properties of the material. However, recycling can save up to 95% of the energy used to make a new can, and there is no need to extract or transport new material.

The factor which also needs to be considered is that not all aluminium cans are recycled. In fact, in the UK only 52% of them are recycled, which mechanically increases the environmental impact of these containers.

Glass bottles stand in the last place in this ranking. Glass requires the extraction of materials like silica sand and dolomite, not to mention a polluting and resource-intensive manufacturing process. During production, the glass itself releases carbon dioxide. The contribution of glass bottles to global warming is 95% higher than that of aluminium cans.

Recycled glass bottles are fourth, due to the energy required during the manufacture of the material. Plastic bottles take third place because recycling them requires less energy. But its properties degrade, unlike aluminium. Moreover, aluminium cans (not recycled) are second on the podium.

The researcher concludes that the best option is to get rid of single-use containers and replace them with a system of reusable containers.