Aluminum industry launches recycling alliance to meet PPWR goals

The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) and Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) have established a European alliance to enhance the recycling of small aluminum packaging at the start of the year. 

The alliance aims to enable the collection, sorting, and recycling of small aluminium packaging formats, such as chocolate and cheese foils and coffee capsules. 

“We need to join forces in the value chain to make progress, particularly with small aluminium packaging, in order to achieve the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) targets. This alliance provides a shared foundation to improve collection, sorting, and recycling in a targeted way,” explains Guido Aufdemkamp, executive director at EAFA. 

Waste management bottlenecks

EAFA points out that while aluminum generally achieves high recycling rates, the processing of small aluminum packages and containers lags behind. This is the case despite modern sorting facilities already capable of effectively separating these formats for aluminium recycling.

Currently, small aluminum packaging is typically incinerated and only partially recovered through bottom ash treatment, which does not meet the PPWR’s “recycled-at-scale” requirements.

“Together, we will identify the respective bottlenecks in waste management which hinder a good recycling performance and conduct relevant studies supporting practical implementation of measures,” continues Aufdemkamp.

“We also rely on the experience in our network of national aluminium recycling organizations and other existing initiatives to put in practice the necessary actions.”

Value chain alliance

According to EAFA, the increasing implementation of DRSs around Europe is removing beverage containers from household recycling streams. This shift is reportedly allowing the recycling industry to focus on other packaging formats in sorting plants.

The new alliance represents 16 companies from across the value chain, including aluminium foil, flexibles, and semi-rigid container producers.

Companies that have already confirmed their participation include Actega, Al Invest, Aluminium Féron, Alupak, Amcor, Bel Group, Constantia Flexibles, Datwyler, Delica, Formika, JDE Peet’s, Laminazione Sottile, Lindt, Nestlé Nespresso, Speira, and Symetal.

Last year, Constantia Flexibles and Watttron unveiled a sealing solution for PP and aluminum lids. The approach builds on Constantia Flexibles’ PPCover, a monomaterial PP lidding solution that meets recyclability standards.

Meanwhile, a study commissioned by the Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute revealed that used beverage cans in the US are typically converted into new, unfilled cans within 60 days after disposal.

We also spoke to Tomra Recycling about the first application of its AI-based GainNext sorting technology for metal recycling. The deep learning solution can improve the purity of molded aluminum scraps, supporting processors and recyclers.