aluminium conference| Revolutionizing Aluminium Recycling in Europe: The Dawn of New Technologies

At the recent aluminium conference, it was announced that the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) is spearheading the EU's RecAL project, a cutting-edge initiative under the Horizon framework aimed at enhancing sustainability, the circular economy, and resource efficiency within the Aluminium industry.

Launched in March 2024 in Vienna, Austria, the Recycled Aluminium Technology (RecAL) project is set to transform the recycling landscape by developing advanced recycling technologies and a digital platform named RecAL Hub. This digital cockpit is designed to facilitate a circular Aluminium economy by connecting suppliers, buyers, and technology solution providers across Europe. The initiative is coordinated by the LKR Light Metals Technologies Centre, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of AIT and involves 19 collaborating organizations from 9 European countries.

The importance of recycling Aluminium, which requires merely 5% of the energy needed for producing primary Aluminium, is underscored by its substantial role in global decarbonization efforts. Thus, the RecAL project is perfectly aligned with the European Green Deal's objectives, aiming to maximize the environmental benefits of Aluminium as a raw material.

However, challenges remain, particularly in the recycling process. The difficulty of separating Aluminium from its alloys, due to their tendency to form complex mixtures, often results in reduced recycling rates and a lesser quantity of usable raw materials. Despite these challenges, the potential for recycled Aluminium in Europe is significant, projected to constitute 49% of the continent’s total Aluminium production by 2050, heralding a new era of sustainable production and reuse within the industry.