Alexei Volkov
Metal and plastic are two of the most common packaging waste materials, with plastics making up 19% of total waste and metals making up 5%. Both materials have negative effects on the environment, but one may be more sustainable than the other. Metal is more abundant and is recycled at a higher rate than plastic. Plastic takes over 400 years to break down, while tin and aluminum take 50-200 years. Less than half of plastic goods are recycled, while steel, the most recycled packaging material in Europe, has a recycling rate of 79.5%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recycling Difficulty | Plastic is difficult to recycle as there are multiple types that must be separated and recycled in different ways. Metal, on the other hand, is easier to recycle and can be recycled infinitely. |
| Recycling Rates | Plastic recycling rates are low, with only 9% of all plastic being recycled. Metal has a higher recycling rate, with steel being the most recycled packaging material in Europe at 79.5%. |
| Environmental Impact | Plastic has a significant negative impact on the environment, with plastic pollution outnumbering sea life six to one. Metal may have a lower environmental impact due to higher recycling rates and reduced pollution. |
| Production Energy | Producing metal, especially aluminium, is energy-intensive and can result in higher carbon emissions. Plastic production uses less energy but relies on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable resources. |
| Weight and Transport | Plastic is a lighter material than metal, which may result in a lower transport footprint. |
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What You'll Learn
Metal is infinitely recyclable, plastic is not
Metal is infinitely recyclable, but plastic is not. This is because metals can be recycled an infinite number of times, whereas plastic can only be recycled a few times before it has to be downcycled, sent to a landfill, or incinerated. Steel, for example, is the most recycled packaging material in Europe, with a recycling rate of 79.5%. On the other hand, only about 9% of all plastic is recycled, with two-thirds of plastic packaging ending up in landfills and a small proportion being incinerated.
The main challenge with recycling plastic is that it is a difficult process. There are multiple types of plastics, and they must be separated and recycled differently at different recycling centres. Some types of plastic are not even recyclable because they contain carcinogens and can release volatile organic compounds if melted. Metal, on the other hand, is much easier to recycle. Metals like tin and aluminium can be easily separated from waste flows and landfills using large magnets, which has led to skyrocketing recycling rates for these metals.
Another advantage of metal over plastic is that common metals tend to be more abundant. For example, bauxite, used for aluminium, is generally not considered scarce. In contrast, plastic is made from petroleum, a limited resource that scientists predict will be largely depleted within the next few hundred years. While it is true that the production of metal containers is more energy-intensive than plastic production, metal's higher recycling rate and contribution to a circular economy make it a more sustainable choice in the long run.
It is worth noting that the sustainability of a material depends on various factors, including the type of metal or plastic, the product, its lifecycle stage, and the sustainability indicators being measured. For example, plastic tends to be a lighter material than metal, so it may have a lower delivery and transport footprint. Additionally, some metals, like aluminium, are highly energy-intensive to produce, which can result in higher carbon emissions. However, the carbon footprint of aluminium can be reduced if it is produced using hydroelectric energy instead of fossil fuels.
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Plastic is lighter and may have a lower transport footprint
Plastic is generally a lighter material than metal. This means that plastic may have a lower delivery, transport, and freight footprint than some heavier metals. Plastic may also be more space-efficient than some metals due to its packing or storage properties and flexibility.
However, it is important to note that the sustainability of plastic and metal depends on various factors, including the type of metal, the product, and how it is manufactured and disposed of. For example, while plastic may have a lower transport footprint due to its lighter weight, it also has a big carbon footprint. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, specifically oil or natural gas, and its production is energy-intensive. The production of plastic contributes to global warming and climate change.
On the other hand, metal may be more abundant and have a higher recycling rate than plastic. Metal can be recycled infinitely, whereas plastic eventually needs to be downcycled, sent to landfills, or incinerated. Recycling metal can reduce its sourcing and production footprint and decrease carbon emissions. For example, recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy that it would cost to produce new aluminum.
Additionally, the choice between plastic and metal packaging depends on the specific application. For instance, in the case of drink bottles, a metal bottle like stainless steel or aluminum that is reused hundreds of times might be more sustainable than a single-use plastic bottle.
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Metal is more abundant and recycled at a higher rate
Tin and aluminum are much easier to recycle than plastic. They are both metal, so tin and aluminum packaging can be removed from waste flows and landfills using large magnets. Because of this, recycling rates for these metals have skyrocketed over the last few years, and in 2009 the EU had a recycling rate of 72% for tin and aluminum. When tin and aluminum are recycled, less new metal needs to be extracted from their ores, reducing the amount of energy used annually on the production of aluminum and tinplate packaging.
Metals can be recycled an infinite number of times, while plastic can only be recycled a few times before it has to be downcycled, sent to landfill, or incinerated. Some reports indicate that 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in productive use. However, it is important to note that some metals still use virgin material in the recycling process, such as stainless steel, which might use 60% recycled content and 40% new/raw content.
While plastic production has some very negative requirements, when compared to the production of tin and aluminum containers, it only uses a fraction of the energy. Aluminum is always found as an ore, meaning it must be extracted using an extremely energy-intensive process that usually involves burning fossil fuels. However, a reasonable amount of aluminum is produced using hydroelectric energy, which may be cleaner than the fossil fuels used to produce plastic.
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Plastic is derived from petroleum, a limited resource
Plastic is largely derived from petroleum, a non-renewable and limited resource. Petroleum is a fossil fuel, and the use of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change. Petroleum is directly used to make plastic, and it is also burned to power the production process. The process of extracting and refining crude oil to make plastic is energy-intensive.
The majority of plastic in use today is synthetic, and it is favoured for its ease of manufacturing. However, the demand for oil reserves is driving the need for newer plastics derived from renewable resources. In Europe, only 4-6% of oil and gas reserves are used for plastic production, with the rest going towards transport, electricity, heating, and other applications.
The production of plastic has some very negative requirements, but it uses a fraction of the energy required to produce tin and aluminium containers. However, aluminium is naturally found on Earth and makes up 8% of the Earth's crust. It is always found as an ore, combined with other compounds, and it must be extracted using an energy-intensive process.
Metals can be recycled an infinite number of times, whereas plastic can only be recycled a few times before it must be downcycled, sent to landfill, or incinerated. Metals tend to have a much higher recycling rate than plastic, and they can contribute to a more circular economy. For example, 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use. On the other hand, only 9% of all plastic is currently recycled.
Overall, plastic has a range of uses and benefits, but metal is more abundant and can be recycled at a higher rate. Metal contributes less to pollution issues and can be better for the environment in some ways.
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Metal recycling rates have increased in recent years
However, it is important to note that the recycling rates of metals are far lower than their potential for reuse. Less than one-third of some 60 metals studied have an end-of-life recycling rate above 50%, and 34 elements are below 1%. Metal production is responsible for 7-8% of global energy use and has severe environmental impacts. Therefore, recycling metal waste is crucial to reducing these negative effects.
The higher recycling rates of metals compared to plastics can be attributed to the ease of recycling metals. For example, tinplate and aluminum packaging waste can be easily removed from waste flows and landfills using large magnets due to their metallic properties. On the other hand, plastic recycling is challenging because multiple types of plastics must be separated and recycled differently at different centers. Not all plastic can be recycled due to the presence of carcinogens and the release of volatile organic compounds when melted.
Additionally, metals tend to be more abundant than plastics, which are derived from petroleum, a limited resource predicted to be depleted within the next few hundred years. Metals are also more sustainable than plastics because they can contribute to a circular economy. For example, 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in productive use. Furthermore, consumer behavior plays a role, as a metal bottle that is reused hundreds of times might be more sustainable than a single-use plastic bottle.
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Frequently asked questions
Metal is generally easier to recycle than plastic. Metal packaging is recycled more than any other primary packaging material, with steel being the most recycled packaging material in Europe. However, the ease of recycling metal or plastic depends on the type of metal or plastic in question, how it's made, and other factors.
Metal has a higher recycling rate than plastic and can be recycled infinitely. On the other hand, plastic can only be recycled a few times before it has to be downcycled, sent to a landfill, or incinerated. Additionally, there are multiple types of plastics, and they must be separated and recycled in different ways and at different recycling centers.
Metal recycling may contribute to a more circular economy and has less of a pollution impact than plastic. However, the production of metal is often more energy-intensive than plastic production, which can result in higher carbon emissions.
Consumers have a strong preference for environmentally friendly products and packaging, and they support companies that carry out recycling. This can encourage companies to adopt more sustainable practices and improve their waste management processes.
Steel recycling in Europe has reached 79.5%, while only about 9% of all plastic is recycled. Additionally, 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in productive use, whereas plastic bottles have a recycling rate of less than 50%.
