00:00In the context of the European Week for the Reduction of Waste, the Chamber of Deputies
00:10held the press conference entitled Aluminium, the infinite recycling that transforms waste
00:15into resources.
00:16Also present at the event was Stefano Stellini, General Director of the National Consortium
00:21for Aluminium Packaging, Cial, who spoke about the infinite recyclability of aluminium
00:25as a durable and permanent material.
00:28Today, compared to aluminium packaging, it cannot be defined as a disposable use,
00:36but it is a use and recycling.
00:38It is not a single use, but it is an infinite use, precisely for those that are the characteristics
00:43of metal, recyclable completely, infinite times.
00:47This is a naturally important aspect, because it guarantees that the packaging remains,
00:54and therefore the aluminium from the packaging is reused within the industrial systems
01:00of aluminium recycling in an indefinite way, with also an important benefit in energy terms,
01:07because we remember that recycling aluminium requires only 5% of the energy necessary
01:14to produce it, starting from the raw material.
01:16So the saving is as if the aluminium packaging contained in itself the energy to be recycled
01:23and reborn several times.
01:24The performance of aluminium in recycling is very evident in the packaging department,
01:29which Cial has been dealing with in the last 5 years.
01:32In fact, with an average recycling rate of 70% of aluminium packaging,
01:36Italy has exceeded the goals by 2030, but it is placed in the first place in Europe
01:41with 10 percentage points above the average of other countries.
01:44The efficiency of the Italian system is even more evident if we analyze the split
01:48of the recycling rate for aluminium milk for drinks, equal to 93.8% for 2023.
01:55President Stellini then explained the meaning of aluminium as prevention.
02:00Prevention, because it is easy to collect, it is easy to recycle,
02:03the volumes in play are particularly reduced and the use of aluminium
02:07occurs only where it is needed, so there is no excess, there is no overpackaging.
02:12But aluminium contributes to the prevention, the formation and the refusal,
02:16in particular also with regard to organic waste,
02:19precisely thanks to its main feature, the so-called barrier effect,
02:25therefore the ability to protect the product contained in the packaging
02:29from the light of microorganisms or bacteria.
02:31This guarantees, within the packaging material market,
02:37the longest shelf life possible.
02:40Italy is the leading recycling country in Europe
02:43and the institutions are also active on the subject of energy transition.
02:47It is clear that the transition towards decarbonization, the green transition,
02:53brings with it enormous problems related to the production of energy,
02:58in particular for countries such as Italy, which are closely linked to gas.
03:03We are working a lot in this direction, with various measures,
03:07it is clear that it is a long journey, certainly, and tiring.
03:11During the event, it was asked to the institutions to continue
03:15in the policy of reporting the slave competition.
03:18Third countries, where strong quantities of aluminium are imported,
03:23not only in raw materials, but also in finished products,
03:26where there are practically no environmental links,
03:31the energy cost is much, much lower and also the cost of labor.
03:37Let's say that the aluminium industry in Italy and in Europe,
03:41especially the Italian one, is really, really virtuous
03:46and I have to give credit to the Italian entrepreneurs,
03:49who are of the highest class,
03:52for being able to keep the industry so alive, so innovative.
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