The latest report by Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium shows the overall recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland was 74.6%, and despite a 1% drop, the total amount of aluminium recycled from cans has increased to a ‘record level’ of 580,000 tonnes.
An increase of 10,000 tonnes (or 1.7%) on the previous year, this reportedly represents a total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions saving of 5.4 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the annual amount of GHG produced by a European city of more than half a million inhabitants like Oslo or Genoa.
Apparently, the increase in recycled aluminium volume reflects a higher overall consumption of aluminium beverage cans in 2022, which resulted in more cans entering the recycling stream. However, a stable collection and sorting level meant that the recycling rate percentage decreased slightly due to the larger rise in total can production and consumption.
The associations say that while beverage can manufacturers (members of Metal Packaging Europe) and their aluminium suppliers (members of European Aluminium) remain resolved to increase the recycling rate at European level, without improved national collection and sorting infrastructure - specifically increases in the number of Deposit Return Systems - EU Member States will struggle to reach 90% recycling or more.
Director of the Packaging Group at European Aluminium, Andy Doran, commented: “The recent results show that this is a marathon, not a sprint. 2022 marked the beginning of a new phase of implementation for several Deposit Return Systems and as these schemes mature, recycling rates will grow further. But there is no time to waste, as our member companies continue to grow and invest in expanded recycling capacities in Europe and rely on increased high-quality scrap for recycling within the European circular economy”.
Krassimira Kazashka, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe, added: “We are pleased with the latest achievements and believe the industry remains on the right long-term path towards 100% circularity of aluminium beverage cans by 2050. Following the recent adoption of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, we encourage Member States to implement well balanced and efficient Deposit Return Systems to help move to a fully circular solution for the aluminium beverage can via ‘can-to-can’ recycling.”
Ball Corporation announced a minority investment in Sweden-based technology company Meadow in January, aiming to support the production of fully recyclable aluminium cans as pre-filled cartridges for personal and home care products. Ball will supply cans and ends which will be placed in reusable dispensers and brought to market as Meadow scales up operations.
Aluminium Deutschland recently urged Germany’s federal government to strengthen the aluminium industry after its production volume fell for the third year in a row in 2024. The association demanded more sources of electric and hydrogen energy, a closed loop for scrap, and the prevention of unfair competition from third countries.
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