“The aluminium can sector for beverages in Brazil is a great example of a circular economy,” Cátilo Cândido, Executive President of Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas)

AL Circle presents a brief conversation with Cátilo Cândido, Executive President of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas). Mr Cândido is a Brazilian lawyer and the Executive President of Abralatas. An executive with more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, strategic business development and management, with experience in industry, commerce, and retail. He has occupied several leadership positions throughout his career.

Here, Mr Cândido has explained the current situation of aluminium can industry in Brazil, the third-largest market in the world after the United States and Canada.

AL Circle: Please shed some light on why aluminium cans are so widely consumed in Brazil? In an interview, you said a complex interplay of scale, temperature, and economy drives beverage can sales in Brazil; can you please elaborate on it?

Cátilo Cândido: Brazil is one of the biggest consumer markets in the world and is in a tropical zone with generally higher average temperatures. This, combined with Brazil's strong and growing economy—especially the increasing purchasing power of its population—drives demand for cold drinks and, in turn, aluminum cans.

On top of that, Brazil's aluminium can industry is well-established, with 24 factories across the country, and it's known for being innovative. The industry frequently introduces new formats, advanced printing technologies, and is expanding into a wider range of beverages. The recently reported 12% growth in sales during the first half of this year reflects this dynamic market.

AL Circle: Do you think there is a need for production expansion of aluminium cans in Brazil to meet the current domestic demand? If so, what is your plan for expansion?

Cátilo Cândido: Brazil's current network of aluminum can factories, spread across all regions of the country, is perfectly equipped to meet demand. Historically, it has always kept up with market growth, and this won't be any different in the near future, if expansion becomes necessary.

AL Circle: How are beverage aluminium can producers in Brazil adapting to a circular economy? What percentage of recycled aluminium is used in can production throughout the country?

Cátilo Cândido: The aluminium can sector for beverages in Brazil is a great example of a circular economy. For the past 15 years, we've maintained a recycling rate of over 95%, a level of reverse logistics maturity that few countries can match. Since producing the first can in the late 1980s, the industry has invested in solutions to ensure access to all post-consumption discarded cans and the capacity to process the entire volume, which now exceeds 400,000 tonnes annually. This model works thanks to a partnership between manufacturers and recyclers, with the involvement of waste pickers, ensuring everything runs well.

AL Circle: As an association, how do you help your members achieve sustainability and stewardship of resources?

Cátilo Cândido: Abralatas has a clear purpose: to support the development of the aluminum can sector with a focus on social and environmental responsibility. We work to ensure that Brazilian public policies steer the economy toward a sustainable model while engaging our members in this mission. A key example is the publication of our sectoral ESG report, which reached its third edition this year. This report reflects our commitment to the UN’s 2030 Agenda, consolidating sectoral plans and aligned actions. The document is publicly available on the Abralatas website.

AL Circle: What makes the Brazilian aluminium beverage can market go strong year after year? What is your projection for 2025?

Cátilo Cândido: Above all, the sector is committed to innovating with social and environmental responsibility, offering the most sustainable beverage packaging available. The growth forecast for 2024 is in the high single digits, with mid-single-digit growth expected for 2025.

AL Circle: At present, what percentage of the world's aluminium cans consumption does Brazil account for?

Cátilo Cândido: Brazil is the third-largest market in the world, with over 33 billion units sold annually, ranking behind only the United States and China.

AL Circle: What percentage of post-consumption aluminium beverage cans is recycled in Brazil? What initiatives do you take to enhance the practice further?

Cátilo Cândido: As mentioned earlier, Brazil has maintained a recycling rate of over 95% for more than 15 years. In 2023, the rate reached an impressive 99.7%. The sector's main initiative to sustain this level of recycling is Recicla Latas, a non-profit organisation launched in 2021 by aluminum can manufacturers and recyclers in Brazil. This group made a formal public commitment to the Brazilian government to continue investing in recycling capacity in line with the sector's growth, purchase all available UBC on the market, and train public managers and waste pickers in best practices for a circular economy. For more details, visit the Recicla Latas website.