Scrap Management and Circular Economy Strategies in the Aluminum Industry

Aluminum is a critical raw material that is highly applicable in the transport, construction, and packaging sectors because it has excellent resistance and can be recycled. The growth of demand for primary aluminum worldwide, coupled with environmental concerns, has increased interest in sustainable alternatives. This will be reviewed in the context of scrap management and the circular economy in the aluminum industry, considering technology, economic, and policy factors. It highlights the potential of advanced sorting systems, alloy separation methods, and computerized tracking systems to enhance the efficiency of the recycling process. The review also focuses on other regulatory strategies (extended producer responsibility), and the complexity of alloys, contamination of materials, and design inefficiency are mentioned as hindering circular flows. One of the proposed theoretical frameworks is the explanation of how to integrate scrap management systems into the design of recycling, urban mining, and carbon responsibility, aiming to help production become closed-loop. The further prospects include the use of Industry 4.0 instruments, adopting the same recycling practices globally, and incorporating the principles of eco-design. The findings underscore the need for a multidimensional approach to achieve a sustainable and circular economy for aluminum.