Aluminium is increasingly being used as a lighter weight alternative to other metals in vehicles and aircraft. Key to its appeal is that lightweight equals better fuel efficiency and so lower greenhouse gas emissions. For ‘short life’ applications like packaging, the indefinite recyclability of aluminium is an advantage and many countries already achieve high recycling rates. But the production of aluminium is energy intensive, with the potential for high greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. How can the industry present the advantages of aluminium to consumers, whilst at the same time ensuring that production and fabrication are carried out in the most sustainable way? By Melanie Williams