When comparing the environmental impacts of cans versus bottles, various factors come into play. Aluminum cans are generally seen as more eco-friendly than plastic bottles, primarily because they are often made with a high percentage of recycled content, and aluminum is easier and more efficient to recycle than plastic. However, the process of extracting and refining the bauxite ore used to produce new aluminum is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. On the other hand, plastic bottles require petroleum for their production and, due to low recycling rates and the slow rate of degradation, often end up in landfills or oceans contributing to pollution.