In amongst trying to make sure I've got all the layers I need, as well as making sure that I've handed over everything I need to at work, I managed to find time this week to catch up with the lovely Kate from the British Metals Recycling Association to pick up a flag to take with me to Antarctica.
Recycling means that less raw material needs to be extracted from the Earth. This has a number of benefits:
recycling material uses less energy than refining and processing raw materials into usable materials meaning lower carbon emissions from the energy consumption
similarly, less quarrying, refinement and processing cuts the air and water pollution generated by these activities
and protects the landscape and habitats of many species of flora and fauna
recycling prevents waste going into landfill to sit leaching potentially toxic substances into the groundwater and soil and creating greenhouse gases
The BMRA is the trade association representing the £7 billion UK metal recycling sector – a globally competitive industry supplying environmentally-friendly raw material to metals manufacturers around the world. Metals, particularly steel and aluminium, are very recyclable and can be used over and over again. Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than producing aluminium from mined bauxite and recycling one tonne saves 14,000 kWh of energy (an average UK household uses 3,731 kWh per year) and 7.5 cubic metres of landfill It is also easy to identify metal (compared to trying to work out which plastics are recyclable) and many councils will take aluminium cans and foil trays as household recycling. Even so it is estimated that only 70% of aluminium drinks cans globally are recycled
I will now admit that I have been a fan of Nespresso coffee for ~20years. Whilst I know that there are arguments for more sustainable ways of making coffee, I appreciate the simplicity and ease of capsule coffee - and the fact that the aluminium pods are collected back in for recycling means that I don't feel it's as impactful as the plastic based alternatives. And here's me on a bike made with recycled capsules!
The work of BMRA to promote recycling of metals that are already in circulation is key for ongoing sustainable use of materials and the fight against climate change. I'm really pleased that they have agreed to sponsor my Expedition and am excited to have the opportunity to work alongside them, raising awareness of the need for recycling of our planet's precious resources and its value in preventing further destruction of our natural landscapes as well as reducing the carbon emissions from metal manufacture.