Metal Packaging Europe reports 76.3% aluminium can recycling rate across Europe

EUROPE – Europe’s aluminium beverage can recycling rate reached 76.3% in 2023, according to a joint report by Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium, reinforcing the material’s central role in the region’s circular economy and climate ambitions.

The figure covers the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. While aluminium can volumes placed on the market rose 4% year-on-year, recycling tonnages increased by 7%, signalling improved collection efficiency and material recovery.

Recycled volumes in 2023 delivered an estimated 5.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent savings, roughly comparable to the annual emissions of a mid-sized European city.

The upward trend builds on 2022 data, when 580,000 tonnes of aluminium were recycled from beverage cans, representing a 74.6% recycling rate. The 2023 increase is expected to push recycled volumes well beyond 590,000 tonnes.

Deposit return schemes driving gains

A key driver behind the progress has been the expansion of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS). Malta, which introduced DRS in 2023, saw recycling rates rise from 50% to 80% within a year.

Latvia improved from 60% to 74%, while Slovakia surged from 58% to 91% after implementation.

Andy Doran, Director of the Packaging Group at European Aluminium, said well-designed DRS provide strong incentives for consumers to return high-value aluminium cans, supporting closed-loop, can-to-can recycling within Europe.

By 2023, 12 EU Member States had implemented DRS for aluminium beverage cans, with further rollouts expected under the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation framework.

Aluminium’s inherent circularity remains central to its performance credentials. Recycling aluminium uses up to 95% less energy than primary production, with no degradation in material properties.

Germany leads globally

Germany continues to set the benchmark, achieving a 99% used beverage can (UBC) recycling rate, supported by its robust DRS system and advanced sorting infrastructure.

Companies including Novelis operate major recycling facilities in the country, including the Nachterstedt plant with a processing capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes annually.

Other markets are accelerating. The UK recycled 157,049 tonnes of aluminium packaging in 2024, surpassing its statutory obligation.

Industry body Alupro reported an 81% beverage can recycling rate, while Novelis has committed US$90 million to expand UBC recycling capacity at its Latchford site by 2026.

Scrap flows and CBAM concerns

Globally, Brazil recorded a 97.3% beverage can recycling rate in 2024. However, scrap trade dynamics differ sharply.

The EU exported 1.36 million tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2024, significantly exceeding imports, raising concerns over “scrap leakage” and retention of circular value within Europe.

Under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), aluminium scrap is currently treated as having zero embedded emissions.

Critics argue this could incentivize inflated scrap declarations or diversion of high-scrap products into the EU market without delivering genuine decarbonization gains.

Despite strong progress, industry stakeholders stress that further harmonization, infrastructure investment and policy alignment will be critical to achieving the sector’s long-term ambition of full circularity by 2050.

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