Some states record significant numbers in terms of can recycling, but the material thus obtained does not always remain in the sector. A study commissioned by the International Aluminum Institute highlights positive aspects and critical issues in the context of can recycling.

Properly recycling aluminium cans could lead to savings of 60 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to a recent report commissioned by the International Aluminium Institute. This study looked at the industry and the circular economy globally, focusing on evaluating can management systems in Australia, Cambodia, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. The choice of these six countries is based on their ability to significantly represent various production and cultural modes.

EACH COUNTRY HAS ITS OWN RECYCLING

For each of the six states taken into consideration, various aspects were examined, including waste management, current regulations, collection structures, recycling and disposal rates, volumes introduced on the market, usage trends, overall performance, used beverage can trading, material flows and future goals. These six countries are divided into three main categories:

• Countries that rely on informal methods for collecting aluminium cans, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, which rely heavily on large numbers of informal workers and experience high recovery rates thanks to the revenue generated from cans.
• Developed countries, such as Australia and South Korea, which base their waste management on complex systems such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) and/or return systems (DRS).
• Countries in transition, such as the United Arab Emirates, where collection infrastructure is largely developed, but mandatory or well-functioning EPR systems, as well as DRS, are lacking.

As a result, South Korea has the highest recovery rate of 96%, followed by Vietnam at 93%, Cambodia at 90%, Thailand at 86%, Australia at 74%, with the United Arab Emirates leading they record the lowest rate at 33%.

Aluminum cans remain the favorite in the alcohol and soft drinks industry, with global consumption expected to increase by 50% between 2020 and 2030 (i.e. 420 to 630 billion cans per year).

CAN-TO-CAN RECYCLING STILL STRUGGLES

The “can-to-can” recycling process of aluminium cans continues to encounter difficulties, as highlighted by Marlen Bertram, Director of Scenarios and Forecasts at the International Aluminium Institute.

Bertram says this comprehensive study confirms what was published in 2022, claiming that globally 71% or more of all aluminium cans placed on the market are recycled. Adding losses during processing, the recycling rate of aluminium cans increases to 79% in the six countries analysed. However, it should be noted that this figure refers to general recycling, which involves melting used cans into new ingots.

The main problem is represented by “can-to-can” recycling, i.e. the direct transformation process from can to can, which records significantly lower rates. In the case of Korea, the country with the highest recovery rate, only 37% of new cans are recycled using this approach. In this specific ranking, Thailand stands out with 78% “can-to-can” recycling, making it the best in this practice.

The RTD (Ready-to-Drink) market in the United States is constantly evolving, with notable growth, but moderating due to changing consumer preferences and product innovation.

Over the past decade, the U.S. ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage market has seen considerable growth, accounting for nearly 12% of the total alcoholic beverage market, surpassing the U.S. wine market.

Growth has been driven primarily by hard seltzers, but post-pandemic, the RTD category is undergoing a transformation. The RTD market in the United States is expected to grow only +1% annually between 2022 and 2027, according to IWSR.

IWRS has identified these key changes:

• Premiumization. The RTD category saw an annual increase in average price per serving in 2022, in part due to the expansion of alcohol-based cocktails/long drinks.
• Hard Seltzer Slowdown. Hard seltzers experienced a decline in volume in 2022, primarily due to the decline of malt-based hard seltzers and competition from rival segments such as long cocktails.
• Taste Innovation. Taste remains an important driver for consumers, with 49% citing it as their primary motivation for purchasing. Hard seltzer flavors are evolving rapidly, ranging from fruit to tea, from cocktails/sodas to fruit smoothies.
• Cross-category partnerships. Collaborations between alcoholic beverage companies and mixer manufacturers are becoming common, creating new distribution opportunities in the market.

These changes reflect the evolving dynamics of the RTD beverage market in the United States.

THE OPINION OF JACOPO CASSOLI, GENERAL MANAGER OF ECOCAP’S

The dynamism of the canned drinks sector is also confirmed by the words of Jacopo Cassoli, general manager of Ecocap’s who, after his recent business trip to the United States, comments:

«The forecasts for the future of the sector are positive; in the USA there is a buzzing market that follows the trends linked to new consumption opportunities. This is an evolving market area, ready to welcome both new types of hard seltzer and canned wine, which is increasingly appreciated by consumers. For us at Ecocap’s» – continues Jacopo Cassoli – interesting and profitable contacts have been made with companies that operate in this area. The segment linked to CBD (or cannabidiol)-based drinks should also be monitored, as well as the much larger beer segment. Although the American market is experiencing a decline in demand for craft beers, important brands or those included in structured corporate contexts such as multinationals are resisting. And for us at Ecocap’s the canned beer market in general continues to be a priority reference horizon».

For the first time in history, Brazil recycled as many aluminium cans as it produced.

Many Brazilians like to consume soft drinks and drink canned beer, with an average of 156 cans per year for each citizen.

Many of them throw these containers on the street, but despite this bad habit, in 2022 Brazil managed to recycle a number of cans equal to those consumed, thus setting a record.

A positive result made possible thanks to the presence of a dense network of collection centres which in turn supply the cans to the large recycling giants.

Aluminium has also become the material of choice for collectors, more profitable than cardboard, lighter to transport and easier to collect. Can recycling contributes to a turnover of around 1.1 billion euros.

Thanks to the work of these centres and the people they support, according to data from Recicla Latas, the association representing companies involved in aluminium recycling, Brazil has reached this historic milestone.

Over the last ten years, the recycling of this material has prevented the emission of 15 million tons of greenhouse gases. Overall, 390,000 tons of cans were recycled in Brazil, equivalent to 31.8 billion units marketed.

ECOCAP’S: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON THE RECYCLING SIDE

Thanks to its TopSyl patent, Ecocap’s plays a significant role in innovating and transforming the style of cans, giving them a more modern, hygienic and safe appearance.

Ecocap’s seals are made of aluminium and joined to the can by heat sealing, without the need to use glue. This solution offers brands a new communication and marketing opportunity, while at the same time ensuring high standards of safety, convenience and hygiene.

A distinctive feature of Ecocap’s is the attention to environmental sustainability: the caps are ecological and 100% recyclable and the machinery guarantees excellent returns with reduced energy consumption.

Thanks to the offer of versatile and ecological solutions, Ecocap and the TopSyl patent reach the Czech Republic.

Thanks to Ultrapak, exclusive distributor of Ecocap’s in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Czech company Amix™ Nutrition has implemented with Ecocap’s the application of the aluminium seal on a new series of energy and regenerating drinks, Cell up, in cans of various capacities.

Thanks to the Ecocap’s CSS020 automatic machine, a thin sheet of 100% aluminium with a thickness of 35-40 microns is applied to the can lid without glue, using only the innovative and patented Ecocap’s thermomechanical method.

The seal protects the can lid from dust, viruses, bacteria and moisture. It is resistant to low and high temperatures of can storage, and it is also waterproof, so the product can be stored in refrigerators and even in ice and water.

TopSyl protects the consumer from a dirty can, but it is a great tool to make can stand out on the store shelf with additional graphics on the lid.

ECOCAP’S: VERSATILE, INNOVATIVE AND ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS

Constantly engaged in the development of innovative solutions to preserve and protect canned drinks, Ecocap’s provides the beverage sector with cutting-edge and highly performing machinery.

Ecocap’s has patented TopSyl, the system consisting of a thin protection heat-sealed to the top of the can. It guarantees hygiene and safety from packaging to consumption.

TopSyl can be applied to any type and format of canned drink, without requiring the use of glues.

A distinctive feature of Ecocap’s is the attention to environmental sustainability: the caps are ecological and 100% recyclable and the machinery guarantees excellent yields with reduced energy consumption.