When you’re putting out your recycling like the conscientious consumer you are, you’d be forgiven for thinking that all recycling was made equally. But when we follow the lifecycle of those discarded pizza boxes, shampoo bottles and cans the stats tell a very different story.
Only 9% of plastic is actually recycled. That right, 9%. Let that sink in for a minute. That means over 9 out of 10 plastic bottles created end up either incinerated or discarded, leaching toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, soil, waterways, and ocean.
In contrast, a whopping 75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use today. That means less production. Less omissions. Less waste. More pats on the back.
Aluminium can be recycled over and over again. Unlike plastic, it doesn’t lose any volume or quality during the recycling process, so after recycling you’re left with 100% of what you started with.
That means your aluminium shampoo and conditioner bottles can be recycled and back on the shelves without needing any new material.
Recycling aluminium uses less energy than making it from scratch. 95% less energy, in fact. One recycled can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
World Environmental Health Day is observed on 26 September and the world has been challenged like never before, in ways that make it more difficult to participate in ethical ways of living that benefit our planet, and each other. Find out why this matters more than ever and what you can do to help.
The ocean makes up over half of the Earth’s surface and contains 97% of the world’s water. Now is the time to act to be able to better our understanding of a healthy marine ecosystem that is integral for our lives, and the future generations, as well as the simple steps you can take everyday to do your part in reversing the damage that’s been done.