From Envirowiki

Aluminium, a metal often used in drink cans and other packaging, as well as lightweight machinery and tools, has one of the most energy intensive production processes of any material commonly used in human society.

[edit] 1 Energy use

Aluminium production uses about 15% of New South Wales' entire electricity consumption^{[reference needed]}. the production process uses electrolysis instead of direct heat to melt the metal. the electricity for such a process is usually produced by a base load coal-fired power station, and loses some efficiency at the power station, in transforming to higher voltage and in transmission. Generally however these combined losses are less than 10% even over long distances.

[edit] 2 Fresher in Foil

"Fresher in Foil" was a campaign run in the mid 90s in Australia, in which chip packets changed from plastic to plasticated aluminium, and promoted as fresher because of this. It's not known whether this increase in shelf life is actually factual or significant, or just a move by the aluminium industry to expand their production.