How does the use of aluminum affect energy consumption?

The use of aluminum has a significant impact on energy consumption, particularly in its production process. Aluminum is an energy-intensive material to produce, requiring large amounts of electricity to extract from its ore, bauxite, through a process called electrolysis. This process accounts for about 5% of global electricity consumption. However, aluminum is also highly recyclable, and recycling aluminum uses only 5% of the energy needed to produce it from raw materials. This makes aluminum recycling a more energy-efficient process, reducing the overall energy consumption related to aluminum use when recycling is prevalent.