Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
The US aluminium used beverage can (UBC) scrap price benchmark tracked by Argus recorded a mixed performance over the third quarter of 2026, declining in July before rising in August and September. The monthly average increased from USD 2,322.89 per tonne in July to USD 2,491.22 per tonne in August and USD 2,602.51 per tonne in September, indicating a sustained recovery in the benchmark over the three months. July: Prices decline despite a high opening The benchmark began July at USD 2,464.98 per tonne on July 1, before falling sharply to USD 2,270.76 per tonne on July 3. The price remained at that level on July 2 and July 6, the lowest recorded price for the month. It subsequently recovered gradually, reaching USD 2,319.86 per tonne on July 10 and USD 2,328.63 per tonne on July 22....
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According to industry experts at the recent BIR convention in Singapore, Southeast Asia is rapidly establishing itself as a major hub for metals recycling, with new facilities emerging across Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently, BIR has a membership of over 1,100 companies, and around 1,200 delegates attended the Autumn Convention held in Singapore. The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is the only global recycling industry federation representing more than 30,000 companies around the globe held the WORLD RECYCLING CONVENTION (Round-table session) in SINGAPORE from October (27) 28-29, 2024, RAFFLES CITY CONVENTION CENTRE, FAIRMONT HOTEL Among the latest additions is Oryx’s advanced stainless steel recycling facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, which has been designed as a...
Lisa Eldridge's new addition, 'Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick', excels with distinctive sustainable packaging design. This lipstick, which comes in 8 shades, features a recyclable, mono-material refill made of aluminium, easing the replenishment of cosmetics for beauty lovers. Image source: Lisa Eldridge "Man, no. I wanted mine to be 100% aluminium," she said to the media. "What's the point of a refill if you can't recycle it?" The creative use of a single material like 100 per cent aluminium simplifies recycling processes and reduces plastic waste. Inclination towards sustainability in cosmetics, demonstrated by refillable and recyclable packaging, preaches growing environmental crises. "People ask me all the time, am I a sustainable makeup brand," she says. "And I say no, I'm not,...
Alupro, the organisation dedicated to aluminium packaging recycling, has been announced as the newest sponsor for this year’s CLAIRE Wales Conference. Scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th, at the University of Wales, the event will focus on the future of recycling and the importance of collaboration in advancing a more circular economy. The conference will gather the fourteen local authority members of the group, featuring several prominent keynote speakers, engaging Q&A sessions, and ample networking opportunities. Delegates will also include representatives from various councils across Wales and the bordering regions of England. Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, said, “Wales currently sits second in the global league table for household recycling performance, with a 65%...
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose Iowa-based Critical Materials Recycling (CMR) as one of six companies to receive a $500,000 cash prize, along with $100,000 in support from national laboratories. The DOE prize was awarded to Critical Materials Recycling to implement the acid-free dissolution process for wind turbines. The award was given to CMR for recycling rare earth elements apart from aluminium and copper. Iowa is a state in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. At Critical Materials Recycling (CMR), engineers disassemble circuit boards, old transmissions, and decommissioned wind turbines to extract and recycle rare earth elements. Unlike most recycling facilities focusing on common metals like copper and aluminium, few have the expertise to break down batteries,...
According to an announcement from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), China will permit the import of recycled aluminium and copper materials that meet specified standards starting November 15, 2024. This move is part of China's broader efforts to drive the high-quality development of its metals recycling sector, reflecting the country's commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency. The ministry clarified in a statement that recycled copper and aluminium materials that adhere to the required guidelines will no longer be classified as solid waste. This distinction will allow for the unrestricted import of these materials, streamlining the process for international trade and promoting the recycling industry's growth. This policy shift underscores China's increasing focus...
In March 2023, Mercedes-Benz symbolically laid the foundation stone for its cutting-edge recycling plant in Kuppenheim, marking a strategic step towards sustainable practices. However, as per the latest information, on Monday, October 21, Mercedes-Benz made history by opening the first in-house electric vehicle battery recycling plant in Europe (Kuppenheim, southern Germany). With a 96 per cent recovery rate—where the remaining 4 per cent is lost due to the electrolyte liquid—the plant handles every stage of the battery's lifecycle. This includes module shredding, drying, and the treatment of active materials through a 'mechanical-hydrometallurgical' process. This method mechanically separates aluminium, plastic, copper and iron, resulting in a substance known as 'black mass.' The black...
In a bold statement at the inauguration of Mercedes-Benz's first battery recycling plant, Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged German automakers not to fear competition from China. Speaking on Monday, Scholz framed the investment as a key pillar of Germany's new industrial policy, aimed at strengthening the country's position in the rapidly evolving global auto industry. Scholz highlighted the importance of innovation and sustainability in ensuring Germany's competitive edge, stressing that initiatives like the new plant will help the nation remain a leader in the electric vehicle sector. The recycling facility, a major move in advancing Germany's green industrial transformation, reflects the country's commitment to cutting-edge technologies and eco-friendly solutions. "Some say that China can do...
According to the US Geological Survey, the United States aluminium scrap exports continued to decline, marking the second consecutive month of fall in July 2024. The export volume decreased 2.32 per cent month-on-month to 168,000 tonnes versus 172,000 tonnes in June 2024. Also, on a year-on-year basis, the United States aluminium scrap exports reflected a downfall of 2.89 per cent from 173,000 tonnes. As the above graph indicates, the back-to-back decline in the United States aluminium scrap exports in September 2024 was primarily contributed by India and Malaysia, the two largest importers of aluminium scrap from the United States. Even though the two countries remained the top importers of scrap from the United States in September, their volume decreased month-on-month. Delving deeper...
A new state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the People's Republic of China (PRC) called China Resources Recycling Group Co. Ltd. (CRRG) has been launched to create a national platform for recycling and reusing resources. The reports show three of CRRG's key shareholders are prominent metal producers: the Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco), China Minmetals Corp, and Baowu Steel Group. SOEs dominating certain sectors Over the past three decades, China's steel, aluminium, and copper industries have become the largest globally. While state-owned enterprises (SOEs) dominate certain sectors, private companies and entrepreneurs have played a more prominent role in others. The steel industry, for instance, is primarily controlled by SOEs, and these state firms also hold a significant share of the...
Brazil-based leading beauty brand Natura has upcycled used Nespresso coffee capsules into their 'Ekos Castanha' range of hand moisturisers. One of Natura's best-sellers will be launched in this sustainable packaging on October 28, on the occasion of National Aluminium Recycling Day. According to Mariana Marcussi, Marketing Director at Nespresso Brasil, the brand's capsules are already made from 80% recycled aluminium. The Ekos Castanha hand care tubes are made from 100% recycled aluminium, 10% of which comes from Nespresso capsules, which corresponds to the reuse of more than two tons of capsules per year. "The partnership with Natura Ekos thus strengthens the circularity of aluminium to create an even more environmentally and community-friendly sector," she adds. However, the...
Where there is aluminium, there is innovation. Aluminium, once regarded as a mere industrial metal, is now the canvas for some of the most exciting innovations shaping the future. Imaging cars that are lighter than ever, gliding effortlessly with the help of aluminium alloys engineered for strength and agility. More recently, aluminium foil coating has sparked a new hope for microbe-free water purification in African countries. Not just this, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineers have also come up with an interesting discovery to produce 'hydrogen gas' using the green metal. Aluminium is central to innovation across industries, playing a vital role in driving technological advancements and sustainability. Its lightweight yet strong properties make it essential for reducing...
Nupur Recyclers Limited, a leading importer and processor of non-ferrous metal scraps, has announced its venture into aluminium extrusion manufacturing through a subsidiary, Nupur Extrusion. As per the report, the company has earmarked an investment of INR 180 million (approx. 21 million) for the plant to address the growing demand for recycled aluminium products, particularly from the solar energy and construction industries. Nupur Extrusion was established in May 2023 by Nupur Recyclers Limited with a 60 per cent share, aiming at producing aluminium extrusions from recycled aluminium scrap. Nupur Recyclers has purchased two acres of land in Sampla, Bahadurgarh, Haryana, for the new extrusion plant and started construction. Expected to be commissioned by the financial year 2025-26, the...
During the first ten days of Rock in Rio Brazil 2024, held from September 13 to 22 and attracting over 730,000 attendees, Rede Movimento, in partnership with Novelis and the National Association of Recyclable Material Collectors (Ancat), successfully collected and sent over 8 tonnes of aluminium cans for recycling. The material will first be processed at Novelis' collection centre in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, before being transported to their factory in Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo. The initiative employs blockchain technology to guarantee traceability and transparency throughout the process, enabling data related to energy savings, social impact, raw material extraction, and avoiding carbon emissions to be tracked. "We work to ensure that the material consumed is recycled and returns to...
Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum (STOM) is back with its annual aluminium pour. The 22nd edition of the event is all set to take place on October 19 in Solsberry, Indiana. Founder Gerry Masse, his entire team and artist interns bring alive the art of metal to the public. The day-long event usually starts at noon and concludes at 6 in the evening, where scrap aluminium is poured every hour in one of the two foundries under 3000 degrees of heat and then moulded into various shapes. People can experience the reality of aluminium production as they walk through the trail and feel the heat from the foundry, marvel at previously built structures, and witness sparks fly all over as aluminium fills the mould. The annual aluminium pour is not just a fun day out, but also an educational experience....
A massive art installation has been unveiled at Piccadilly Circus, one of London's most iconic locations, to emphasise the importance of recycling. Created by the not-for-profit organisation Every Can Counts (ECC), the artwork features an infinity symbol made from over 1,200 recycled aluminium drink cans. It represents the endless recyclability of aluminium, highlighting how drink cans can be reused time and time again. Displayed next to the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, the installation will remain at Piccadilly Circus until Friday, October 18th, as part of Recycle Week (October 14th – 20th). This debut installation is set to tour additional locations across the UK next year. Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said, "This infinity sculpture is a brand-new...
Sparklo, an AI-driven global cleantech company, has recently conducted a survey that reveals 67% of UAE residents would recycle more if they had better access to recycling infrastructure. The survey was conducted among 1,000 Sparklo users, part of a more extensive user base of 200,000 in the UAE. The results show that approximately 50 per cent of respondents recycle 1-2 times per week, while 13 per cent recycle daily. While corresponding with the participants in the survey, Sparklo realised that recycling programmes and reverse vending machines should be more accessible across the cities to increase the recycling rate. When asking the respondents about motivations, awareness, and challenges in recycling practices, Sparklo learnt that 70 per cent of them were fully informed about recycling...
Novelis Inc., an American industrial aluminium company renowned for its flat-rolled product manufacturing and recycling expertise, has signed a strategic three-year agreement with TSR Recycling. This contract strengthens their long-standing partnership to supply approximately 75,000 tonnes of pre-sorted and processed end-of-life aluminium scrap for producing automotive-grade aluminium sheets. This collaboration plays a key role in driving the decarbonisation of the aluminium industry, not only in Europe but globally. “They consist of very specific alloys with pretty tight specifications, made from 100% post-consumer scrap. We have very strict quality management in place. TSR136 in particular was designed as a sustainable P1020 substitute. We designed it with billet producers in mind, and...
Aluminium demand in North America (US and Canada) has demonstrated an upward movement through the first half of 2024, marking a 5.2 per cent year-on-year growth, as shown by the Aluminum Association in its monthly Aluminium Situation report. “2024 continues to be a strong year for aluminum demand,” said Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “Customers and end consumers have made it clear that they want sustainable, recyclable materials like aluminum. Our members are investing in production and jobs in the United States to help meet this demand both now and in the future.” Showcasing a steady advancement from 13,365 million pounds in H1 2023, North America’s aluminium demand this year is reported at around 14,056 million pounds. To this growth, aluminium sheet and...
