Never before have so many aluminium beverage cans been recycled in Europe as in 2017, according to new figures from Eurostat. In Germany, the recycling rate is already at 99 %.
This makes Germany the leader in the recycling of beverage cans both in Europe and worldwide. Across Europe, the recycling rate rose from 72.8 % in 2016 to 74.5 % in 2017 - an increase of 2.3 %.
Almost 31 billion cans were recycled in the EU and EFTA countries in 2017, that is more than 420,000 tonnes of aluminium. Recycled aluminium consumes 95 % less energy than aluminium in primary production. In addition, the recycling process causes only 5 % of the greenhouse gas emissions that arise during production from primary raw materials. All Aluminium cans are infinitely recyclable, regardless of their colour, design, format or size.
In Germany, the beverage can is the most recycled beverage packaging (as it is worldwide). With a top recycling rate of 99 per cent, the beverage can is the recycling champion - even ahead of Scandinavian countries such as Norway or Finland.“
Stephan Rösgen, Managing Director of the Beverage Can Forum
As the Beverage Can Forum has now announced, can manufacturers and their aluminium suppliers are confident that the European recycling rate will continue to rise thanks to a combination of measures. These include, for example Improved collection systems for metal and packaging or incentive systems such as modern Deposit or voluntary take-back systems.
Can manufacturers and aluminium recyclers are prepared to invest in Additional recycling capacities to invest. However, public and private players in the waste management sector would then also have to be prepared to invest in the necessary additional facilities for separation and processing.
Source: Forum Beverage Can
