COP28: Aluminum industry aims for 100% recycling by 2050 as new initiatives enter the market

11 Dec 2023 --- Aluminum industry stakeholders have set an ambitious target of achieving a near 100% recycling rate for drink cans by 2050 at COP28, currently underway in Dubai, UAE. The initiative aims to support the International Energy Agency’s “Net Zero 2050” goal and address the need for enhanced recycling to combat climate change.

To facilitate this initiative, industry leaders and organizations have endorsed specific actions, including establishing national and state-level recycling targets, formulating policies to enhance the quality of collected used beverage cans and collecting and publishing data on aluminum recovery rates to monitor progress. 

The aluminum industry is also urged to scale up existing recycling capacity, track global recycling rates, support smart can collection and recycling policies, and prioritize can-to-can recycling through optimized alloy design and scrap purification. 

Organized by International Aluminium Institute (IAI), over 28 aluminum producers, recyclers, rolling mills, can makers and industry associations have endorsed the call to action, including Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Australian Aluminium Council, US Aluminum Association, Ardagh Metal Packaging, European Aluminium, Ball Corporation, Novelis, Crown Holdings and others. 

Complex but “can do”
The industry leaders recognize that achieving a nearly 100% recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans is complex. However, they emphasize that a “can-do” attitude, collaboration between governments and the industry, and implementing effective policies are crucial for success. 

The push for full circularity of aluminum beverage containers is essential to support the decarbonization of the aluminum sector, stresses IAI.“For the first time, the entire aluminum value chain is communicating on a large scale and investing in discussions and decisions on goals for recycling rates, standards for recycled content measurements, levers for regional recycling system improvements and several other actions that help to drive toward a stronger circular economy,” Sandrine Duquerroy-Delesalle, director of Sustainability & External Affairs at Crown, tells Packaging Insights.

“These forums allow all players to find common ground from their unique role in our sector and develop shared plans that help us work together more efficiently. Some specific initiatives to track toward increased can-to-can recycling include advocacy for local waste management strategies and incentivized product stewardship opportunities, such as DRS and EPR legislation.”

IAI details that over 70% of aluminum beverage cans are recycled into new products, but this falls short of the contribution required to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target. The push for full circularity of aluminum beverage containers is essential to support the decarbonization of the aluminum sector, considering the material’s infinite recyclability without a loss of quality.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA, says: “Infinite recyclability is one of many reasons why aluminum is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminum is already one of the world’s most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away. Increasing recycling requires supportive government policies and the development of infrastructure.” 

“It also depends on people worldwide making the right decisions every day about how to dispose of items they no longer need. We all have a role to play in this. At EGA, we are committed to playing our part, including working with our waste management, can-making and beverage producer partners in the UAE Aluminium Recycling Coalition we formed.”

“Incredible opportunity ahead”
The global number of beverage cans is projected to increase from 420 billion in 2020 to 630 billion by 2030. IAI shares data revealing that achieving global recycling for all cans in 2030 could save 60 million tons of GHG emissions annually.

Achieving a near 100% recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans is proposed against a backdrop of the aluminum industry dealing with rising demand for the metal while achieving decarbonization.

“In addition, our ongoing assessments of collection infrastructure, material flows, waste trading and other points in the aluminum value chain will help us identify opportunities to drive investments in more recycling access points, more efficient capture equipment or more controlled product handling and traceability to ensure no cans are lost to landfill,” Duquerroy-Delesalle tells us.Aluminum can recycling rates in Europe (Image credit: MPE and European Aluminium).

“As we push for focused policies and find new chances to establish additional frameworks, it will be most critical for us to receive the support of regional governments — they will play an invaluable role in setting new requirements and monitoring their communities for compliance. With that support, we have an incredible opportunity ahead.”

Current scenario in the EU and US
Giving us a perspective of the EU, Sarah Cuvellier, deputy CEO at Metal Packaging Europe, the voice of the European rigid metal packaging industry, tells us: “In the EU, you have the DRS that helps to collect aluminum beverage cans in a closed product loop system and increase the recycling rates.”

“Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Croatia, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland have DRS. Some others will set up DRS, like Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain and Romania. A proposal of European regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which is currently being examined, requests mandatory DRS for the member states that do not attain a 90% recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans and PET bottles.”

Meanwhile, the US Aluminum Association shares with us: “From a US perspective, we are proud of the aluminum can’s continued position as the world’s most recycled beverage package, but recognize that [at least] US$800 million worth of aluminum (twelve 12-packs for every American resident) enters landfills every year.” 

“That’s unacceptable. We’re working with the Can Manufacturers Institute in the US to promote recycling refund systems as a key way of increasing recycling.”

By Radhika Sikaria