This year (2024) Earth Overshoot Day is 1 August, as compared to last year's 2 August.

Earth Overshoot Day is the day in the year that the consumption of the earth’s natural resource by humans exceeds the ability of the earth to regenerate those resources in 12 months.

Or, to put it another way, we currently need 1.7 earths to sustain current human consumption. Nearly 50 years ago this day was December 31*. 

The UK's own Earth Overshoot Day is in June, last year it was May: www.overshootday.org/newsroom/country-overshoot-days/

Why not measure your own footprint: www.footprintcalculator.org

How metals recycling contributes to net zero

Metal, unlike some other recyclable materials, is in the enviable position of being endlessly recyclable. Closed loop recycling systems operate for aluminium metal drinks container enabling them to be back on a shelf in 60 days. It also offers limitless potential for its future uses. Metal from cars can become reinforcing bars for skyscrapers or metal parts for computers, or any number of components for another car. Metal from mobile phones has been used to make Olympic medals.  

This is before you consider that metal recycling protects the environment by reducing the need for mining and the destruction of natural habitat, as well as saving energy and reducing emissions.

But the BMRA is not just focusing on what this industry is doing externally, we look to what metal recyclers can do themselves. This is why we have launched the BMRA's Sustainability Hub to assist members in reaching their own decarbonisation goals. 

BMRA's Carbon Action Committee is dedicated to identifying best practice in decarbonisation and will seek economic alternatives for metal recyclers to switch to net zero themselves, capitalising on the already well-established green credentials of metal recycling by enabling the industry as a whole to benefit.

A new Government, a new approach for metals recycling?

With a new Labour Party recently elected, there is now added impetus from Government to reach net zero. While the role of the metals recycling industry has not yet been formally recognised by the new Government, it has already been recognised by the National Wealth Fund Taskforce. This is the body tasked with structuring and implementing the £7.3bn National Wealth Fund, that will invest in the new industries of the future.

The Taskforce has identified the metals recycling industry as an area for investment as a result of its propensity to allow the steelmaking industry to produce every type of clean ‘green steels’ the future will demand.

There is no Planet B

There is one earth, some things are heading in the right direction, but is it fast enough? Earth Overshoot Day is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done and we must all play our part. After all, there is no Planet B. That's why we need to #movethedate. 

www.overshootday.org/ 

 *https://www.overshootday.org/newsroom/past-earth-overshoot-days/