The industrial revolution might have been ages ago, but we can still feel its impact on the environment. We have pushed the limits, and there is obvious stress on the basic life support systems. Its environmental impact is going beyond tolerable leading everyone involved to act.

To answer this most talked about issue, environmental sustainability is now a deciding factor in different industrial processes in the manufacturing industry. One process in question is the aluminum extrusion. As you all know, aluminum is a recyclable, versatile, and sustainable material that has significant benefits when used. Many companies use it as an environmentally responsible alternative to other materials.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of aluminum and how the aluminum extrusion process lessens the negative impact on our environment.

Aluminum as a Sustainable Material

Aluminum has long been regarded as a sustainable material for construction, manufacturing, and many other industries. It has low impact on the environment and has proven to be a crucial material in a successful recycling program.

Aside from being touted as a green material, aluminum offers high scrap value, wide acceptance from consumers, and its recycling qualities enjoy industry support. It is also a go-to construction material because it has less weight-to-strength ratio that allows for weight reduction on buildings. Another important quality of aluminum is its extrudability, which allows for off-site fabrication. The last part is where aluminum contributes greatly to lessening the impact on the environment. Since the construction industry acknowledges the use of extruded aluminum as a more responsible approach in developing sustainable structures, it has become widely recognized in the commercial building and construction industry.

Here are some of the reasons why aluminum is considered a more sustainable solution:

• In packaging, aluminum beverage cans have three to twelve times more recyclable material than any of its types.
• In construction, structures made from aluminum weigh lesser than steel but do provide comparative strength.
• A vehicle with more aluminum content has a 20% reduction in life cycle energy consumption.
• Since aluminum weighs less, you can do more with less. It also consumes less energy to transport from one location to another.
• Other than its recyclability, aluminum is durable and resistant to corrosion.

Aluminum Extrusion and Sustainability

The aluminum extrusion industry is growing rapidly. However, not much has been discussed about the environmental impact of the process. It is easy to say that the aluminum extrusion industry is playing its role in lessening the negative impact of the process on the environment. But how?

There are four by which it can help:

• During wide-scale operations, the scrap generated front the aluminum extrusion and at its end-product life is recycled into high-quality raw materials for the next cycle of operations.
• Most aluminum products have high levels of recyclable content, which can be reused into another product.
• It delivers in-use benefits that reduce the environmental impact of the product that uses aluminum extruded materials.
• Aluminum extrusion companies are continuously improving their processes to lessen the impact on the environment.

In-Use Benefits of Aluminum Extrusion

Aluminum extrusion is a sustainable manufacturing process because of the recyclability of the material, the high recycled content, and its geographically placed production network that reduces emissions and transport fuel. These are obvious reasons. The most significant benefit that aluminum extrusion contributes is its use. Meaning, the environmental impact of its efficient products.

For example, extruded aluminum has high strength and low weight, which has many benefits. It weighs less during transport. Thus, reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption.

This is more evident in the transport market where the use of extruded aluminum and other aluminum components contributes greatly to fuel efficiency and in effect, reduces the greenhouse effect. Not only in transportation, but aluminum extrusion is also beneficial to the construction industry. Buildings have become more efficient with their use in improved windows, sunshades, facade systems, light shelves, and many other extrusion-based construction components. All of these contribute to the reduction of operating costs and energy use of the building.

For example, extruded aluminum has high strength and low weight, which has many benefits. It weighs less during transport. Thus, reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption.

Aluminum Extrusion Conclusion

Aluminum fundamental properties remain unchanged during the extrusion process. Thus, it can be recycled over and over again. This limitless recyclability, lightness, formability, corrosion-resistance, and high strength-to-weight ratio make the material a significant component in many sustainable measures.

As a result, the aluminum extrusion products help in improving fuel efficiency, reducing energy requirements of buildings, and facilitating the installation of solar panels. It reflects the value of aluminum extrusion in enhancing sustainability.