Worldwide, supply chain challenges have led to increased interest in the circular economy, with the remanufacturing of engineered products emerging as a smart solution. Jamestrong is a regional manufacturer of metal cans used by Australian and international brands. Like most modern manufacturing businesses, Jamestrong wants to deliver more sustainable outcomes.
The company has joined forces with Professor Veena Sahajwalla and her team at the UNSW SMaRT Centre to explore how they can repurpose waste as an input in the manufacture of aluminium slugs used to make aerosol cans at its Taree-based plant.
Their groundbreaking project establishes Jamestrong as one of the first aluminium aerosol can producers in the world not only to make aerosol cans from recycled content but also from waste currently not recycled because it contains mixed materials, including plastics.
Supported by the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE) program, this Green Aluminium Partnership is set to commercialize UNSW SMaRT Centre’s advanced MICROfactorie™ recycling technology into Jamestrong’s can manufacturing process.
Jamestrong CEO, Alex Commins, is excited to be at the forefront of recycling initiatives in the metal packaging sector, creating a more sustainable future for both the business and its customers.
“We are developing an aluminium casting line in the existing footprint of our plant in Taree and are partnering with UNSW SMaRT Centre to introduce recycled aluminium to our aerosol can manufacturing process.
“The new casting line will employ an additional 30 FTE during construction, mostly tradespeople, and 15 in operation, with additional technicians and scientists from UNSW also joining us on-site.
Advancing Green Steel research
Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the UNSW SMaRT Centre, said the partnership with Jamestrong will contribute to the next level of Green Steel manufacturing by transforming the use and reuse of aluminium, aligning recycling and manufacturing of mixed waste content that is currently not subject to traditional recycling processes.
“By employing our revolutionary MICROfactorie™ technologies, we can recover aluminium from waste products like chip packets and laminated packaging, uncovering new value in waste materials not previously recycled,” Professor Sahajwalla explained.
“Every atom of aluminium that exists in our society, whether in multi-layered form or any other format, can actually be regenerated and brought back to life over and over again, and that’s what we’re doing with Jamestrong in Taree.”
Mr. Commins said the UNSW partnership would boost local employment at the plant and pave the way for continued progress in sustainable packaging globally.
Finding new value in waste
UNSW Green Aluminium MICROfactorie™ technology can recover aluminium from a range of mixed waste feedstocks, including waste packaging, that is incorporated directly into the Jamestrong aerosol can manufacturing process.
By testing technologies developed at the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre micro-factory at the Jamestrong site, a real-time production environment will fully evaluate the recycling processes.
Long-term outcomes will include regional jobs to support recycling and remanufacturing processes, financial savings on raw materials, reduced scope 3 emissions, including from international freight, and the manufacture of other Green Metals using complex and problematic waste items that normally end up in landfills.
Project summary:
Jamestrong plans to use UNSW metal recycling technology at its Taree plant to integrate recycled aluminium into its aerosol can manufacturing process. This technology will make Jamestrong one of the first global aluminium aerosol can producers to use recycled materials in its manufacturing process.
Learn more about SMART@UNSW’s collaboration with Jamestrong.
