As people become more environmentally aware, they seek out more sustainable options than plastic. One contender here is aluminium. It is gaining more traction as a sustainable choice. This metal has a rich history going back centuries, with it being useful to many industries. Some of them use H111 aluminium sawn plate for their work, while others choose different types.
Comparing aluminium to plastic directly though, things aren’t so straightforward. Both substances possess their own pros and cons. What we want to do here is explore aluminium’s advantages and how the two compare to each other.
The reasons for aluminium’s success
One major reason is the versatility. Aluminium isn’t difficult to process. Moreover, it is robust in different sizes and shapes. This makes it very adaptable and you can use it for whatever you can imagine. If you go on with your daily life, you’ll notice aluminium in countless goods. Examples include electrical components and tiny wires alongside food packaging and escalators.
Another reason is the durability. Aluminium items are famous for being durable. They put up with harsh conditions and exterior influences like corrosion and weather. This is why many external products make use of H111 aluminium sawn plate and other types. Not to mention, it resists impact and fire.
Third is the low weight. What you are working with here is a very lightweight material. The average 500ml aluminium can weighs roughly 15 grams. This is compared to the 19 grams of plastic and 300 grams for a glass bottle. The weight saving, together with weather resistance and stability, is a major boon for storage and transport.
Then we come to the recyclability. Aluminium is the most recycled material in existence. As opposed to plastic, you can recycle it infinitely without undermining quality. Comparing to glass and plastic, it is simpler to sort too. One other excellent effect of recycling is that it saves 90% of the energy required to generate new aluminium. This solves the issue of high carbon content being one of aluminium’s biggest downsides.
Comparison
Now that we know of aluminium’s advantages, let’s see how it compares to plastic directly. Then, if you want to order H111 aluminium sawn plate or other types, you can talk to us.
Environment
Aluminium easily wins if you compare the environmental impact. As we said, it is infinitely recyclable. Some plastics you can’t recycle at all. Others only allow a few cycle before they are no longer suitable for recycling. So, there is a clear advantage for the metal. There can be a lower impact for production and manufacturing too, particularly because plastics are derived from fossil fuels.
Usability
For usability, aluminium is durable and reusable over many years. This is true for H111 aluminium sawn plate and other options. Furthermore, it resists wear, corrosion, and oxidation. Plastic also has its fair share of durability. The difference is that it deteriorates more over time. Plastic isn’t heat resistant either, which will limit its uses in many applications.
Cost and availability
One of the essential reasons for our massive plastic use is that it’s very cheap to generate. It is widely available and also customisable. This is why businesses love packing everything with it. In the short term, the cheap price will make it difficult to move to aluminium.
Health
Finally, aluminium has been found to be safe for preparing items and storing them. It comes with significantly less risks than plastic. A weak linkage exists between Alzheimer’s disease and high levels of aluminium consumption. Saying this, it was never proven and would call for ridiculous levels. Compared to the microplastics and toxic chemicals in plastic, aluminium is the clear winner.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many reasons to favour aluminium over plastic. Even though it comes with a higher initial carbon impact, it can be a significant metal for a circular economy. This is thanks to its excellent recyclability. Substituting a few of our plastic products with it can be a healthy and sustainable choice.
Talk to us about H111 aluminium sawn plate
At Brindley Metals, we provide a healthy list of materials and metal products. These include brasses and yellow metals, high purity silver, and specialist materials. All this is on top of different types of aluminium, titanium, and steel. Whatever it is you need, we’ll supply it to you.
So, please let us know if we can be of any help. We can offer specs for any material, including H111 aluminium sawn plate. This can include sizes and other useful details.