Defining a Closed-Loop U.S. Aluminum can Supply Chain Through Technical Design and Supply Chain Innovation
Buffington, J.; Peterson, R.
JOM 65(8): 941-950
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1047-4838 Document Number: 624684
The purpose of this study is to conduct a supply chain material flow analysis (MFA) for the U. S. aluminum can market, consistent with studies conducted for the overall worldwide aluminum industry. A technical definition of the use of alloys 5182 and 3104 is conducted by metallurgists for use in the "aluminum can" MFA. Four propositions are created: technical, economic, and supply chain factors are as important to secondary aluminum recycling in an aluminum can as higher recycling rates (P1); the development of a unialloy aluminum can will increase reuse rates, but recycling rates must increase for this to happen (P2); a closed-loop aluminum can supply chain is not able to be fully realized in today's environment but is very useful for understanding improvement through both supply and demand (P3); and Ubc supply can improve through a "voluntary deposit-refund system" approach (P4).