Aluminum – a light metal with a massive impact

25 Dec.,2023

 

 

In Germany, for example, the automotive industry is the biggest consumer, accounting for 47% of the aluminum used in 2019. Other uses of aluminum are construction (14%) and packaging (12%). Electrical engineering and mechanical engineering follow with 7% each, the iron and steel industry with 5%, while use in household goods, office equipment, furnishings and leisure products account for 8% (source: German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Nov. 2020: Deutschland ‒ Rohstoffsituation 2019).

Conventional cars manufactured in Europe contain an average of 180 kg of the light metal. Considerably more aluminum is used for SUVs and luxury cars – in particular by Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche – as well as in electric vehicles. The Audi E-Tron contains no less than 800 kg of aluminum (source: European Aluminium 2019: Aluminum Content in European Passenger Cars).

Many single-use products such as coffee pods, beverage cans and yoghurt lids are made of aluminum. Aluminum salts are also used in antiperspirants and medications and to regulate the consistency of creams.

Demand for aluminum has risen sharply in recent years, with devastating consequences.

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