Ubc

Recycling contest backed by CMI drives over 3 million aluminium beverage can recycling
20 MAY 20263MINS

Recycling contest backed by CMI drives over 3 million aluminium beverage can recycling

The aluminium packaging industry has wrapped up the 2025–2026 Million Cans Recycling Contest, an initiative spearheaded by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) to strengthen supplies of used beverage cans (UBCs) while encouraging practical recycling education in schools and communities. During this latest edition of the programme, pupils from 56 primary schools spread across 14 US states collected and recycled more than 3 million aluminium drinks cans. Over the past three years, the competition has now recovered upwards of 6.5 million cans in total. That volume represents roughly 188,000 pounds of aluminium diverted away from landfill sites, approximately the same weight as the airframe of a commercial Boeing 737. Expansion through a new non-profit model A major development for the...

02 MAY 20266MINS

Aluminium at an inflexion point: Can shifting power, scrap and policy redefine who leads next?

The global aluminium industry is going through a significant shift. With new regulations, changing energy needs and a growing focus on sustainability, the competitive landscape is being redefined. Companies are quietly adjusting their strategies across supply chains, recycling efforts and low-carbon initiatives. This suggests that the next wave of transformation in the industry will rely more on adaptability, resilience and the ability to extract value, rather than just on scale. JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd., hosted the 5th Global Solar and Energy Storage Summit 2026 , attended by industry leaders, emphasising a significant shift towards integrated solar-plus-storage solutions. With rising global demand, over 20 thousand participants addressed the value-driven strategies, system...


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Scrap takes control: Inside aluminium’s shift to a circular, volatile market
Recycled AL24 APR 2026

Scrap takes control: Inside aluminium’s shift to a circular, volatile market

The aluminium industry is quietly undergoing a structural shift. What was once dominated by primary smelting is now moving toward a scrap-led ecosystem, with used beverage can (UBC) material emerging as a critical feedstock. The shift is rooted in cost and power. Producing primary aluminium requires 13–15 MWh per tonne and, when coal-powered, emits 12-14 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne. That makes recycled aluminium not just a sustainability choice, but an economic one. Read here . As this transition gathers pace, UBC scrap pricing has moved beyond local dynamics. It is now increasingly linked to benchmarks from the London Metal Exchange, while also reacting to regional energy shocks and supply tightness. What was once a fragmented market is becoming globally visible-and more volatile. Read the...

Why the price volatility in the global aluminium UBC scrap market: LME benchmarks and the underlying economic drivers
Recycled AL22 APR 2026

Why the price volatility in the global aluminium UBC scrap market: LME benchmarks and the underlying economic drivers

中文翻译附于新闻末尾,敬请继续阅读。 The global aluminium market is currently transitioning from a century-long reliance on primary smelting to a circular economy model centred on Used Beverage Can (UBC) scrap. This shift is not merely environmental—it is fundamentally economic, driven by the extreme energy intensity of primary production, tightening carbon-linked trade policies, and the financialisation of scrap through the London Metal Exchange (LME). The movement of aluminium UBC scrap prices, once a localised phenomenon, has now evolved into a globally transparent metric shaped by LME benchmarks, regional energy shocks, and the strategic accumulation of low-carbon feedstock by multinational corporations. For the updated global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global...

Aluminium UBCs supply over 70% of can scrap globally, but metallurgy determines circularity, Innoval’s COP30 factsheet shows
Recycled AL16 DEC 2025

Aluminium UBCs supply over 70% of can scrap globally, but metallurgy determines circularity, Innoval’s COP30 factsheet shows

The aluminium beverage cans linger to be one of the strongest proofs that the aluminium industry’s circularity is attainable at scale. Not in theory, but in practice. A recent white paper presented by Innoval at COP30 shows that the evidence lies purely in metallurgy, process control and measurable emissions outcomes. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain An Innoval spokesperson has said, “Can-to-can recycling is not only a technical success but a critical climate solution. By optimising metallurgy and processing, we can unlock real environmental benefits while maintaining quality.” Cans are not made from generic aluminium. They rely on two engineered alloys. One where the can’s body stock uses AA3104 and...

Aluminum Association calls for export restrictions on scrap to strengthen US manufacturing
Recycled AL15 OCT 2025

Aluminum Association calls for export restrictions on scrap to strengthen US manufacturing

The Aluminum Association has urged the US federal government to take immediate action to keep more aluminium scrap within the country. The Association argues that limiting exports of high-quality scrap, particularly used beverage containers (UBCs), will support US manufacturing and supply chains. The move aims to address the growing gap between domestic aluminium demand and supply. Image for representational purpose Every year, the US consumes between 5 and 6 million tonnes of aluminium scrap but exports more than 2 million tonnes. With US aluminium production heavily reliant on both domestic and imported scrap, keeping more scrap at home will reduce reliance on imports. This is especially critical as US manufacturers face an increased need for scrap in the face of significant investments...

TOMRA launches new eBook underlining AI's transformative power in recycling
Sustainability05 OCT 2025

TOMRA launches new eBook underlining AI's transformative power in recycling

Leading global sorting solutions provider, TOMRA Recycling, has published its latest eBook, ‘AI in Recycling: Unlocking New Possibilities’. This comprehensive guide explores the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning (DL), in revolutionizing the global recycling industry and driving material circularity. The free-to-download eBook aims to demystify deep learning, explaining its mechanisms and showcasing its practical applications in overcoming complex sorting challenges, such as enabling the separation of previously hard-to-classify materials through the training of vast datasets. From manual processes to the prospect of fully autonomous AI-driven systems, the evolution of sorting technologies is also examined in detail, alongside the core...

Mapping recycled aluminium demand across regions and end-use sectors, 2019–2024
Recycled AL18 AUG 2025

Mapping recycled aluminium demand across regions and end-use sectors, 2019–2024

The global transition toward low-carbon or "green" aluminium is no longer a distant ambition—it's reshaping the very foundation of the secondary aluminium market. Driven by sustainability commitments, rising consumer expectations, and stricter regulations, the pressure on scrap availability is intensifying. This imbalance between capacity expansion and supply growth has set the stage for fierce competition that spans continents. Source: Recycling Today Scrap at the heart of the green transition From 2019 to 2024, secondary aluminium capacity witnessed steady growth. But the real surge is just ahead: between 2024 and 2026, planned capacity expansions will significantly outpace scrap availability. This widening gap raises a critical question: Will the industry secure enough feedstock to...

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