A significant barrier to aluminium can recycling in South Korea stems from a widespread lack of consumer awareness about the material’s unique sustainability benefits.
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According to Novelis Korea, the local arm of the world’s largest aluminium recycler, a recent survey revealed that 57.4 per cent of 1,012 respondents were unaware that aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely without loss of quality. Additionally, many were unfamiliar with the fact that recycling aluminium consumes far less energy—cutting carbon emissions by up to 95 per cent—compared to producing primary aluminium from raw bauxite. This knowledge gap, the company suggests, is a key challenge in boosting the country’s recycling rates.
A survey jointly conducted by Novelis Korea and the Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements in observance of Global Recycling Day on March 18 highlighted a significant gap in consumer awareness regarding sustainable packaging.
Initially, plastic bottles emerged as the most preferred beverage packaging choice among respondents. However, once informed about aluminium’s infinite recyclability, 84.1 per cent of participants indicated a strong willingness to opt for beverages packaged in aluminium cans instead of plastic, glass bottles, or paper cartons.
Novelis Korea emphasises that aluminium is theoretically 100 per cent recyclable without any loss in quality, unlike plastic and other materials, which deteriorate after multiple recycling cycles. Remarkably, it takes just 60 days for recycled aluminium cans to be returned to shelves as brand-new cans.
According to OECD estimates, South Korea's per capita aluminium consumption was highest globally in 2023, thanks to its expansive automobile and electrical sectors. As of 2022, South Korea's per capita aluminium consumption was 42.76 kg. However, because South Korea is not one of the top aluminium-producing countries, imports fill its metal requirement. In 2021, the country's aluminium imports were $8.46 billion, with aluminium scrap accounting for most of the total. Despite efforts to increase domestic production, South Korea's supply limits continue to compel a substantial reliance on imports.
Lee Dong-yi, Secretary-General of the Seoul Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, said, "In order to reduce carbon emissions and preserve natural resources, it is critical to improve infrastructure and policies for collecting aluminium cans and ensuring 'can-to-can' recycling."
The company highlighted that in Korea, only 30 per cent of collected aluminium cans are recycled back into new cans. This low rate is largely due to inadequate sorting practices, which compromise the quality of recyclable material. As a result, many used cans are downcycled into lower-grade aluminium products or repurposed as deoxidizers in steelmaking.
In this context, the survey underscored the need for policies aimed at raising public awareness about the recyclability of aluminium cans.
When respondents were asked whether they would choose products packaged in aluminium cans labelled as containing over 80 per cent recycled content, an overwhelming 89.1 per cent answered positively.
Moreover, 88.1 per cent expressed their willingness to separately dispose of aluminium cans, despite the potential inconvenience, while 89.6 per cent indicated they would use a nearby aluminium reverse vending machine.
Support for a deposit system was also strong, with eight out of ten respondents in favour. Regarding the appropriate deposit amount, preferences varied: 32.8 per cent favoured a 50 won ($0.04) deposit, followed by 27.6 per cent who preferred 30 won, 26.8 per cent who supported 100 won, and 12.8 per cent opted for 10 won.
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