Aluminium makes up over eight percent of the earth's crust. It contains only the elements oxygen and silicon, of which there is more. Although there is a lot of aluminium in the ground, it took a long time before we, as humans, discovered it. The metal is well camouflaged. In the earth's crust, it is mixed together with oxygen atoms into something called aluminum oxide. Curious about how aluminium is actually made? Here you can get the highlights of aluminium's journey from bauxite, the production cycle, use and recycling.
- It is a material that can be recycled almost infinitely, without losing its properties.
- Aluminum is light and strong at the same time. An aluminium piece weighs only a third of the steel.
- Aluminum can be soft, like in a soda can, and hard, like in a car door.
- Compared to copper for example, which has been used by humans since the year 5000 B.C., aluminum is a young metal. It has only been made and produced by humans for about 200 years.
- Norway is known as a country with a high knowledge about aluminum.
- 75 percent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use.
- Aluminium is used for everything from food packaging and electronic parts to buildings and vehicles.
Recycling is both easier and more important than you think, here are four tips on how to contribute:
- Everyday routines can make a difference. Always recycle the caviar tube when it is empty.
- Every item contributes and counts. Even small tea light holders are important to recycle. Remember to remove the candle wax residue and the wick holder (the piece of steel to which the wick is attached) by pressing the bottom of the tea light cups.
- Together, we can do more.Tell your family and a friend what to recycle.
- Be the savvy one. Many people forget to recycle aluminium. You can help change that.
Aluminium recycling
The beauty of aluminum is that it does not break after we use it. The metal can be melted down and reused almost indefinitely. Recycling requires much less energy than making aluminum from bauxite. Therefore, it is important that as much as possible of the aluminium we use is sent for recycling.
Hydro works actively with educating children about aluminium, recycling and highlighting how aluminium can be resurrected in a new product. We see that many adults today lack knowledge about aluminium and recycling, that it can be reused again and again, and the importance of managing the aluminium we already have. We want to do something about this and we know that the children can be good ambassadors here.
Through the collaboration Hydro has with Aksjon Gjenvinning, we are working on exactly this. We want to show it actually helps to recycle by highlighting, for example, how many aluminum cans you have to recycle to make a new bike. We believe both children and adults need visible information about what the recycled aluminium can be used for to see the benefits of this. We would like to contribute to this.
About Aksjon Gjenvinning
Dag Otto, Hydro Metallgjenvinning, Forskerfabrikken and Kavli invite all fifth to seventh graders in Norway to join us in making a simple and important contribution to the environment. Do you know a committed teacher or a class that is concerned about the environment and recycling? Then you should tell them to sign up for Aksjon Gjenvinning.
Aksjon Gjenvinning is a free, national educational program that gives students the opportunity to learn more about recycling and how we can take better care of the earth. The program gives teachers an opportunity to include important topics in their teaching in an easy going and engaging way.
The campaign involves recycling and reusing packaging made of aluminium. Unfortunately, aluminium's packaging often ends up in the garbage. We are going to change that together!
Making something from recycled aluminium requires only five percent of the energy needed to produce products from completely new aluminium. That means we can save 95 percent emissions by recycling aluminum’s packaging! Here you can get acquainted with aluminum.
The campaign lasts for four weeks and consists of two parts: collection and creative reuse. For the first three weeks, you can participate in the fundraising and/or creative reuse. The fourth week goes to registering numbers and submitting ideas. The rules are super simple!
The collection takes place for three weeks. During this period, students will recycle and record as much aluminium packaging as they can. The categories are cans, grill pans, foil and tubes.
Which parts of the campaign you want to participate in are entirely up to you. The two parts run in parallel, have their own rules and their own prizes.
Read all about Aksjon Gjenvinning here
Hydro sponsors Aksjon Gjenvinning
Hydro has for many years supported Forskerfabrikken's work in Norway through the Summer School's Forskerfabrikker and Aksjon Gjenvinning. It has been an important part of Hydro's commitment to engage around knowledge and science, to ensure competence and interest in this for tomorrow's engineers and industrial workers.
There is an increased need for innovation, development and knowledge that can take the world towards low and zero-emission production. Here, renewable energy and materials with a small footprint play a large and important role. Aluminium is a perfect material for a circular economy. When produced in Norway based on energy from hydropower and other renewable energy sources, it is even more environmentally friendly. Recycling is therefore an important part of a circular economy, and since aluminium can also be recycled endlessly, it is a natural part of the solution.
Hydro is an aluminium and energy company. Therefore, it is natural that we take an active part in the discussion about how we can better both increase the recycling rate and create a more circular society.
Our ambition is for people to see it, understand it and help create a change. Every item contributes and counts!
Updated: 8 February 2023