What Recycled-Content Aluminum Coil Actually Means.

"Recycled aluminum" gets used loosely enough that it stops meaning much on its own. A recycled-content figure only becomes useful once it is tied to a specific alloy, a specific coating, and a specific order.

Key takeaways

  • A recycled-content claim only means something when it names an alloy, a coating and a percentage together, not a general industry statement.
  • Orbit's confirmed worked example is a 3105 substrate with a PUPA coating, reaching roughly 75% recycled content without compromising the finish, confirmed per order.
  • The figure is calculated on the substrate at the cast-batch level; the coating is accounted for separately.
  • Achievable recycled content varies by alloy and by the scrap available for a given cast, which is why there is no single blanket percentage.
  • The confirmed figure is traceable to your cast batch and usable in your own sustainability reporting.

What does a recycled-content claim actually need to include?

An alloy, a coating and a percentage, together, not a general statement about the aluminum industry. Aluminum as a material is broadly recyclable, which is true and also not very actionable on its own. What a buyer needs is a number tied to the coil being ordered.

That is the distinction between a general industry statement about aluminum and a recycled-content figure a buyer can put their name to, whether for procurement policy or their own sustainability reporting.

How is recycled content actually calculated?

On the substrate, meaning the aluminum itself, at the cast-batch level, before rolling or coating happens. The coating is a thin surface layer and is accounted for separately.

Orbit works the figure out at the cast-batch level because that is where the proportion of recycled input is actually set. A figure calculated any other way is an estimate, not a documented number.

What is Orbit's confirmed recycled-content example?

A 3105 substrate with a PUPA coating, reaching roughly 75% recycled content without compromising the finish, confirmed per order. That pairing is specific: different alloys tolerate different proportions of recycled input while still meeting their required chemistry.

Achievable recycled content also depends on the scrap available for a given cast. 3105 with PUPA is the combination Orbit can point to with a confirmed figure rather than an estimate. For more on why 3105 specifically is the alloy behind this example, see 3105 vs 3003, mechanical properties and coil coating applications.

Scrap to coated coil, on one integrated site Process flow from scrap input through melting and casting, rolling, coating, to finished coated coil, all on Orbit's Aqaba site. Recycling, casting, rolling and coil coating happen on one integrated site in Aqaba. Scrap input Melt & cast Roll Coat Coated coil Confirmed worked example, not a blanket figure On select coated coil — a 3105 substrate with a PUPA coating — roughly 75% recycled content is achievable, confirmed per order. This figure does not apply to every alloy or coating combination.
Scrap to coated coil on one integrated site, with Orbit's confirmed recycled-content worked example.

What is the difference between pre-consumer and post-consumer scrap?

Post-consumer, sometimes called old scrap, is metal recovered after a product's working life is over, such as used beverage cans. Pre-consumer, sometimes called post-industrial or new scrap, is manufacturing offcuts that never reached an end user.

Both categories reduce demand for primary aluminum, and the split between them for a given cast can be described on request.

Why isn't there one blanket recycled-content percentage?

Because achievable recycled content is not a fixed property of "aluminum coil" as a category. It depends on the alloy's chemistry tolerance for recycled input and on what scrap is actually available for that specific cast.

That is why Orbit confirms a figure per alloy, coating and order rather than quoting one percentage across an entire product line. If a supplier gives you a single recycled-content number that applies to everything they sell regardless of alloy, that is worth a second look.

Can I use Orbit's recycled-content figure in my own reporting?

Yes. Once confirmed, the figure is traceable to the cast batch for your order, which makes it documentation rather than a marketing line. Any sustainability frameworks or credits built on top of it are yours to claim.

Orbit's role is to supply an accurate, traceable number toward them, not to hold certifications on your behalf. If your reporting requirement is driven by regulation rather than voluntary disclosure, particularly for EU-facing supply chains, see why recycled content matters for CBAM and Scope 3 reporting. The physical process behind the figure, from scrap intake through casting, rolling and coating, is covered in how aluminum coil recycling works.

How do I request a figure for my own order?

Send the alloy, coating system and application you are specifying, along with quantity and destination, and we will confirm the achievable recycled content and what we can document for your records.

See the recycled-content page for the full worked example and request process. Global recycling context for the industry as a whole is published by the International Aluminium Institute, though that industry-wide context is background, not a substitute for the order-specific figure that will appear in your documentation.

Common questions

What recycled-content percentage can I get?

Roughly 75% is confirmed achievable on a 3105 substrate with a PUPA coating, without compromising the finish. For other alloy and coating combinations, send your specification and we will confirm the achievable figure.

Is recycled-content coil calculated including the coating?

No. It is calculated on the substrate, the aluminum itself, at the cast-batch level. The coating is a thin surface layer and is accounted for separately.

Does recycled content affect the finish or quality of the coil?

In the confirmed 3105-with-PUPA example, no. Recycled-content coil goes through the same quality controls as the rest of Orbit's production, since recycling, casting, rolling and coating sit inside one integrated site.

Can Orbit provide recycled-content documentation for my reporting?

Yes. We supply a batch-level recycled-content figure traceable to your cast batch, confirmed per order, which you can use in your own sustainability reporting. Certifications and credits built on that figure remain yours to claim.

Why does the recycled-content figure vary by alloy?

Different alloys tolerate different proportions of recycled input while still meeting their required chemistry, and the scrap available for a given cast also varies. That is why Orbit confirms a figure per alloy and order rather than publishing one blanket percentage.

References

Orbit is an integrated aluminum coil manufacturer in Aqaba, Jordan, family owned and operating since 1976, with recycling, casting, rolling and coil coating on one site. We hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Anything not listed here is available on request.

Need a recycled-content figure for an order?

Send the alloy, coating and application, we will confirm the achievable figure and what we can document. We respond to RFQs within one business day.

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The technical information in this article is prepared in good faith and verified against publicly available industry sources at the time of writing. Product specifications, applications and requirements can vary by project; always confirm current specifications directly with Orbit Aluminum Industries before purchasing or specifying. Orbit Aluminum Industries is not liable for decisions made or outcomes resulting from use of this content. See our Terms & Conditions.