According to new data from Sweden’s Deposit Return System (DRS) operator Pantamera (Returpack), more than 2.8 billion PET bottles and aluminium cans were returned in 2024 – a 6% increase from the previous year, with every person in Sweden recycling 271 containers on average.
The Swedish DRS aims to ensure collected PET bottles and aluminium cans are turned into new ones, reducing the need for new virgin materials and cutting carbon emissions. Pantamera says that the system prevented over 180,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2024.
The operator states that Sweden’s deposit return rate reached 87.6% last year, just short of the 90% target. The deposit increase announced in January 2025 hopes to further push recycling rates and reinforce the importance of returning every bottle and can.
“We often call bottle and can recycling Sweden’s smallest climate action — because everyone can contribute to the environment and climate simply by returning their containers instead of throwing them away or placing them in the regular recycling,” says Sara Bergendorff, head of Sustainability and Quality at Pantamera.
Plans to increase deposits on aluminium cans and small and large PET bottles for the Swedish DRS were announced in January, with Pantamera/Returpack aiming to make it more attractive for consumers to sort materials properly to benefit the climate and environment. Deposits increased from from SEK 1 to SEK 2 on aluminium cans and small PET bottles and from SEK 2 to SEK 3 on large PET bottles.
TOMRA recently introduced TOMRA B7, the first TriSort reverse vending machine (RVM) in its Basic Line. Designed to make drink container recycling more accessible and efficient for small businesses and markets new to deposit return schemes, it can accept up to three types of containers including PET, cans, glass bottles and refillable bottles.
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