CONCLUSION

Moving towards 100% recycling for aluminium beverage packaging is an ambitious goal we cannot achieve alone.

Proper kerbside and on-the-go waste collection systems, advanced sorting technology and recycling infrastructure need to be put in place. Ineffective communication and awareness-raising, inappropriate disposal behaviour and sorting, as well as informal recycling also all need to be equally addressed. Metal packaging manufacturers can contribute towards these shortcomings as part of the shared responsibility for waste management involving all actors. However, the transition to achieving the aluminium can’s full recycling potential will be systemic and transformative and will require cooperation from all stakeholders at the EU, national, regional and local level.

The aluminium beverage can’s perfect fit for the circular economy places it at the forefront of the EU's transition towards greater sustainability. By featuring policy recommendations, best practice examples and case studies from across Europe, this report sets out a clear roadmap showing how we can achieve full circularity of aluminium cans in Europe and in doing so begin to mark out the route to a truly circular economy. 

The overall objectives of Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium are to maximise the collection, improve the sorting and recycling of the aluminium beverage can through innovation, digitalisation and optimal governance of packaging recovery systems, so as to remove the remaining barriers to achieving higher recycling rates.To be successful and to deliver ambitious recycling rates, work on different initiatives must begin in parallel. The industry needs to do its part, but all other key stakeholders of the beverage packaging value chain and the legislative environment should also create the right incentives to allow the metal packaging industry to achieve its full contribution to the circular economy. Being fully committed to putting the right synergies, processes and systems in place to achieve our vision for sustainable packaging, we look forward to achieving the aluminium beverage can’s full potential as an enabler of a true circular economy.

Therefore, we invite all relevant stakeholders in the packaging value chain, from local authorities and municipalities, public and private waste collectors, sorting and recycling operators, material and packaging suppliers to brands, retailers, consumers and regional and national governments, to endorse this Roadmap so that we can ensure the level of stakeholder coordination necessary to work all together in a cooperative spirit and develop targeted joint actions that will actively contribute to the achievement of our goal.