Aluminium endless
life cycle – from cradle to cradle
To illustrate the aluminium life cycle, what can be more relevant
than the myth of the Fountain of Youth. In this myth, old persons
enter a fountain of youth and are transformed back to their
young and healthy selves. This myth is a good metaphor for recycling
: considering that used aluminium is an old person, recycling
gives it the same effect as the Fountain of Youth.
A "cradle to cradle" cycle of an aluminium product
system can be modelled using different process steps as outlined
in the flowchart below. It should be noted that "grave"
relates here to the end of life of the product, not of the
material aluminium since it is being recycled.
