Many customers argue that aluminium foil could be hazardous for the environment – everyone working for Hydro has certainly heard such statements repeatedly.
But what about the truth?
Let’s look closely into the details.
A typical Easter bunny made from 100g of milk chocolate accounts for 360g of CO2 emissions from cocoa growth, transportation, roasting and chocolate production.
For wrapping the rabbit, a piece of thin foil with a typical size of 20 cm x 20 cm is required – just one single gram of aluminium. Or to show another impressive number: one single coil of foil is enough to wrap one bunny for every schoolchild in Germany.
And what does this single gram of metal imply for the environment?
Depending on the local recycling performance, the impact of the foil is only 1 percent of that of the chocolate when high recycling rates are achieved (e.g. Germany, Norway) and rises to 3 percent where recycling of aluminium needs improvement. This calculation is also valid for every other foil packaging of chocolate: the bunny brings fun and does not produce a bad conscience.
By the way: Aluminium foil, with its superior barrier properties, is one of the best protective materials for delicate foods. So the bunny will keep its delicious taste certainly until Christmas.
Published: April 3, 2014