According to the latest report from Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) and European Aluminium (EA), the recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland hit an impressive 76.3% in 2023.
This year’s data reveals positive trends, with market placements and recycling tonnages increasing by 4% and 7%, respectively. These figures indicate a substantial volume of recycled aluminium from cans reintegrated into Europe’s circular economy. The total recycled tonnage equates to a remarkable Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 5.7 million tonnes of CO₂eq—comparable to the annual GHG output of a European city with over half a million residents, such as Lyon or Gdańsk.
The ongoing rise in recycled aluminium volume reflects an overall improvement in recycling performance, particularly in countries with Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) for aluminium beverage cans. For instance, Malta’s introduction of a DRS in 2023 catalyzed a significant jump in recycling rates from 50% to 80%. Additionally, Latvia and the Slovak Republic both experienced notable double-digit increases in recycling rates in 2023, following their DRS implementation in 2022. Latvia’s recycling rate climbed from 60% to 74% (+14%), while the Slovak Republic surged from 58% to 91% (+33%).
This report underscores the pivotal role of the aluminium sector in advancing the EU’s climate objectives and enhancing circular economy endeavors. The observed increases in recycling rates significantly contribute to emissions reduction, as recycling aluminium utilizes 95% less energy compared to primary production. Through the successful implementation of DRS and an export duty on aluminium scrap, Europe is poised to progress toward closed-loop can-to-can recycling.
Despite these advancements, MPE and EA remain dedicated to boosting recycling rates across Europe and supporting improved national collection infrastructures through Deposit Return Systems. Both EU Member States and the industry are thus working towards achieving 100% circularity by 2050. Andy Doran, Director of the Packaging Group at European Aluminium, stated, “Year on year, the evidence builds that well-designed Deposit Return Schemes offer consumers the additional incentive to return high-value aluminium beverage cans for high-quality recycling, simultaneously creating opportunities for closed product loop, circular economy solutions within Europe. Full Member State implementation is still needed of the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation National requirements for DRS, so that all EU citizens can now experience this simple and effective collection solution.”
“We are encouraged by the latest achievements and believe the industry is on the right long-term path. Aluminium is a permanent material and a circular resource whose inherent properties do not change, regardless of the number of times it goes through a recycling process. By 2023, 12 Member States had implemented deposit return schemes (DRS) for aluminium beverage cans, with more Member States following. This growing momentum clearly demonstrates that the pathway towards fully circular, can-to-can recycling for aluminium beverage cans is taking shape across Europe,” said Krassimira Kazashka, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe.
1 If a yearly GHG emission of 9.2 tonnes is assumed per EU citizen, as utilized in the Product Environmental Footprint methodology, see Normalisation method and data for Environmental Footprints – Deliverable 2 of the AA Environmental Footprint and Material Efficiency Support for Product Policy (No. 70307/2012/ENV.C.1/635340).
