Aluminium is the material par excellence that lends itself to being recycled and entering what proves to be a virtuous, continuous cycle. This is confirmed by the figures released by Cial (Consorzio nazionale per il recupero e il riciclo degli imballaggi in alluminio), relating to the collection, recovery and recycling of aluminium packaging in Italy in 2015.

A total of 46,500 tonnes of aluminium packaging were recycled, equal to 69.9 per cent of the amount placed on the market. This result made it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 345,000 tonnes of CO2 and to save energy equivalent to over 148,000 tonnes of oil.

"In a circular economy perspective, whose principles are particularly aligned with the values of aluminium, the 'metal to metal loop' ensures that the energy and matter present in every single aluminium product endures over time, without any loss of chemical-physical performance, being reused and therefore preserved in each successive application without end," declared Cial president Cesare Maffei. "Hence also the concept of a permanent material, associated with metals which, precisely because of these specific characteristics, cannot be traced back to the categories of materials from renewable sources or to those derived from petroleum."

Cial collaborates with companies to increase the share of aluminium collected

These figures and results have certainly been achieved thanks to the 6,607 Italian municipalities taking part in separate waste collection, with over 52 million citizens involved, but also thanks to a close relationship and collaboration with various companies operating across Italian territory. The most recent of these is the one forged with Costa Crociere, which will make it possible to collect and send for recycling all the cans consumed on the Group's ships. Or the collaboration with the Giro d'Italia, to introduce separate waste collection at major sporting events too.

"The consolidation of the Consortium's role across the entire national territory and of the network of relationships with municipalities and operators, with whom an important journey has been shared up to now, achieving significant results, now represents almost the beginning of a new era," concludes Maffei. "We are, in fact, ready to face the new challenges set by Europe and the new opportunities that our country too will be able to seize through the updating and regulatory alignment currently under way."