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https://theconversation.com/weve-smelted-a-billion-tonnes-of-recyclable-aluminium-do-we-need-to-make-more-166784>
"Aluminium is light and versatile, but massively energy-intensive to produce,
requiring 10% of Australia’s entire electricity output . Recycling it uses just
a fraction of the energy. Why aren’t we closing the loop?
This metal – the most abundant in the Earth’s crust – is used in everything
from kitchen utensils to soft drink cans, buildings and plane parts.
Since we discovered how to extract it in the 19th century, around one billion
tonnes of aluminium has been smelted. Of that, three quarters is accessible for
recycling.
Unfortunately, aluminium’s energy-intensive production has major consequences
for climate change. We must power aluminium production with renewables, and
find better ways to recycle this most useful metal.
To provoke thought about aluminium and its energy needs, I collaborated with
designer Kyoko Hashimoto to produce new works of design using aluminium. These
mirrors and vases are currently on display as part of the National Gallery of
Victoria’s Sampling the Future exhibition.
As critical designers, we hope to communicate the waste problem created by
mixing aluminium into unrecoverable composites, and reframe the perception of
the metal’s value, which has diminished since its discovery."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
