From July 20, 2026, BPA-containing cans will be banned in the EU: the beverage industry is accelerating toward BPA-free solutions thanks to new regulations and packaging innovation.

BAN ON BPA IN CANS

The beverage industry is entering a crucial phase: by July 20, 2026, beverage cans with internal linings containing Bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be allowed on the European market. The deadline is set by Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which came into force on January 20, 2025, introducing a general ban on the use of BPA in food contact packaging. Manufacturers of beer, soft drinks, energy drinks, and RTD beverages are racing to upgrade their packaging technology, aiming to ensure regulatory compliance without compromising product quality and stability.

For years, Bisphenol A (BPA) has been used in the internal linings of cans to protect beverages from corrosion and spoilage. Today, following EFSA’s assessment of potential health risks, the European Union has banned its use in food packaging, forcing the industry to rapidly transition to safe alternatives.

DEADLINES FOR THE BEVERAGE SECTOR

The European regulation provides for different transition periods to allow companies to gradually adapt to the ban on BPA in food packaging. For the beverage sector, starting July 20, 2026, single-use cans with coatings containing Bisphenol A will no longer be marketed, while for sectors such as fruit and vegetables and seafood, the deadline has been extended to January 20, 2028.

A flexible period is also foreseen to dispose of stocks: cans regularly placed on the market within the deadlines can be refilled for an additional 12 months, and packaged products can remain on sale until stocks run out, encouraging a gradual transition to BPA-free solutions.

THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE

The real challenge now is industrial. Packaging manufacturers are developing new modified polyester resins to replace traditional epoxy enamels.

For beverage brands, however, the transition is not immediate: R&D departments must verify that the new coatings are compatible with the different formulations, preserving:

• the beverage’s organoleptic profile
• resistance to carbonation
• chemical stability in the presence of acidity
• container durability

For beers, energy drinks, and soft drinks, compatibility between the liquid and the internal coating is crucial to ensuring quality and shelf life

Aluminum is 100% and infinitely recyclable. In 2024, Italy recovered 68% of its packaging, avoiding 440,000 tons of CO₂. Here are five key rules for recycling aluminum cans effectively.

ALUMINUM IS A CIRCULAR TREASURE, AND CANS ARE ITS SYMBOL.

Cans are the ultimate icon of aluminum recycling: lightweight, ubiquitous, recognizable, and above all, infinitely recyclable without losing quality. A daily gesture (opening a soda, finishing the contents, holding the can in your hand) is the beginning of an industrial process that transforms waste into a resource. It’s no coincidence that 130 cans are enough to make a scooter: a figure that gives an idea of ​​the often-overlooked value we hold in our hands.

In 2024, Italy recycled over 68% of its aluminum packaging, achieving a 95% energy saving compared to primary production and avoiding over 440,000 tons of CO₂. A powerful and technologically advanced supply chain, coordinated by CIAL, but one that remains fragile unless citizens’ behavior intervenes upstream. It all starts in the kitchen, in bars, in offices: everywhere a can is consumed. That’s where it’s decided whether that aluminum will come back to life or not.

THE 5 GOLDEN RULES FOR RECYCLING EFFECTIVELY AND SAVING CANS FROM LANDFILL

To truly recycle cans and all aluminum packaging, just follow five simple but fundamental rules.

1. Understand what to dispose of

Not just cans: thin sheets, trays, spray cans, caps, tubes. If the aluminum is solid or predominantly aluminum, it should be disposed of in the designated container according to local regulations. Even small pieces count, as long as they are recognizable.

2. Don’t wash it: just empty it

The can doesn’t need to be washed. Just remove any liquid residue: using water to clean it is a wasteful process. The systems work very well even with harmless micro-residues.

3. Separate when possible

If a package has components made of different materials, separating them helps improve the quality of the recycling. Aluminum with aluminum, plastic with plastic.

4. Dispose of it in the correct container

In many municipalities, aluminum is collected together with plastic and metals, in others with glass or in dedicated containers. Following local regulations is essential to avoid dispersing recoverable material.

5. Crumpling: the decisive gesture

This is the simplest rule, but also the most crucial. Crumpling aluminum allows the facilities to recognize and recover it without error. If left flat or scattered, many items risk disappearing along the sorting conveyors. Crumpling them makes them physically interceptable.

In Italy, 100% of the aluminum produced comes from recycling: a strategic supply chain based on a daily gesture. Every recycled can is raw material for a new production cycle.

Amid sustainability, product protection, and efficient logistics, aluminum cans are surpassing glass in beer packaging, with market forecasts pointing to strong growth through 2034.

CAN VS. GLASS: PROTECTION, LIGHTNESS, AND FRESHNESS

The global beer packaging market is showing steady growth. According to Grand View Research, the sector is expected to rise from approximately USD 25.66 billion in 2024 to USD 32.36 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.0%. Another study confirms a similar trend, projecting an increase from USD 25.80 billion in 2024 to USD 39.31 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.3% (source: towardspackaging.com).

In this context, aluminum cans remain the winning choice over glass, offering:

• Superior protection: they shield beer from light, oxygen, and moisture, preserving aroma and freshness.
• Simplified logistics: lightweight, shatterproof, and easy to transport, cans require no bottle opener, making them ideal for e-commerce and modern markets.

In the United States, in 2023, 64.1% of beer sold was packaged in cans, compared to 26.9% in glass (source: packagingdive.com), confirming the global trend toward more practical and sustainable solutions.

SUSTAINABILITY, MARKET TRENDS, AND THE RESILIENCE OF CANS

The choice of packaging material significantly affects the environmental footprint of beer. Switching to aluminum reduces the product’s environmental impact by an average of 12%, with peaks of up to 15% across the full production cycle (source: Global Market Insights Inc.).

Cans also contain 3 to 20 times more recycled material than glass or PET, making recycling more efficient and widespread (source: Beer CPA). This sustainability is mirrored in consumer preferences: in the U.S. in 2023, most beer sold (64.1%) was packaged in cans, far surpassing glass at 26.9% (source: packagingdive.com).

The global beer packaging market is expected to continue its expansion in the coming years. Between 2024 and 2030, significant growth is anticipated, with market values estimated between USD 24.8 billion and USD 41.2 billion, and a CAGR of 4.7% (source: Future Market Insights). Key drivers include premium packaging, sustainable solutions, and e-commerce.

However, challenges and opportunities remain. Aluminum is subject to the volatility of trade policies, such as tariffs increasing up to 50% in the U.S. Nevertheless, the rising use of recycled aluminum, which is not subject to duties, mitigates risks for producers. Glass, while still an alternative, is more expensive to transport, reinforcing the resilience and cost-effectiveness of cans over the long term.

Every properly recycled aluminum can becomes raw material for a new production cycle, ensuring value and sustainability. A daily gesture that represents a concrete contribution to the circular economy.

Acqua S.Bernardo is an Official Supporter of Slow Food Italy and, during SANA Food and Slow Wine Fair 2025, it highlighted its role thanks to TopSyl

ACQUA S.BERNARDO, SLOW FOOD ITALIA AND TOPSYL: TOGETHER FOR A GREENER FUTURE 

Sustainable innovation meets responsible food culture: Ecocap’s, thanks to the innovative TopSyl patent, has allowed Acqua S.Bernardo to give visibility to its role as Official Supporter of Slow Food Italia.

The cans of Acqua S.Bernardo – made of 100% recyclable aluminum – have in fact been customized through TopSyl, highlighting the contribution of the Piedmontese company towards Slow Food Italia on the particular occasion of SANA Food and Slow Wine Fair 2025.

Supporting Slow Food Italia, which has always promoted a more equitable and sustainable food system, represents a concrete commitment, by Acqua S.Bernardo, towards a future in which quality, innovation and respect for the environment go hand in hand.

The adoption of TopSyl by a prestigious brand like Acqua S.Bernardo confirms the attention to reducing the ecological impact, responding to the needs of consumers who are increasingly attentive to sustainability.

TOPSYL: INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNICATION