Crown Holdings to increase worldwide recycling rates for aluminium beverage cans

Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) has announced its commitment to engage with industry partners to reach ambitious new worldwide recycling rate goals for aluminium beverage cans, in line with its Twentyby30 programme which aims to promote the circular economy. The objectives, which are expected to be accomplished by 2030, concentrate on metal's natural recyclability to support Crown's sustainability initiatives and promises to build a more responsible sector.

The new goals are linked to specific regions where Crown operates, and they include:

In America:

• United States: Raising the existing 45% average to 70% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 90% by 2050, with aggressive targets of 70%by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.
• Mexico: Maintaining a recycling rate of greater than 90% until 2030, and collaborating with industry partners to set national recycling rates.
• Brazil: Keeping greater than 97% of the population until 2030.

Working with industry partners, we were able to reach 80% in the countries where we operate across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

In the Asia Pacific, by the end of 2025, we will have established country-wide 2030 recycling rates in the three primary countries where we operate (Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam).

Aluminium cans are now the only beverage packaging option that can be consumed and returned to the shelf in less than 60 days. Metal is also an indefinitely recyclable, permanent substance that retains its qualities throughout time, which helps to reduce resource consumption and waste.

Crown will collaborate with industry partners to improve public and private recycling access, encourage consumer education on the importance of recycling used beverage cans (UBCs), the fund can capture technologies to improve recycling centre sorting processes and support effective recycling policies to increase aluminium can recycle rates. Crown has already made great progress in these areas, including assisting in the funding of five contracts issued to facilities in the United States, resulting in the recycling of an extra 71 million UBCs per year.

"The beverage can already stands strong as the most recycled drinks package in the world. Still, there is more work to be done to enable us to capture and reuse as much aluminum as possible. Our efforts will help ensure even more UBCs, which are the most valuable commodity in the recycling system, will be recovered successfully and kept from landfill,” said John Rost, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at Crown.

The new recycling objectives, while set and driven by Crown, will require widespread action and support, including contributions from consumers, producers, industry associations and advocacy groups, as well as beverage brands. Due to their intimate links and contacts with customers all over the world, CPGs in particular will aid in gaining momentum with the public's recycling behaviours.

"Coca-Cola's history with the beverage can stretches back decades, with our portfolio expanding to include the format more than 60 years ago," said Ben Jordan, Senior Director Sustainability at Coca-Cola.

"Today, metal's attributes continue to help protect the classic image, flavors and experience consumers expect when they reach for a Coke. We welcome today's announcement and are proud to support Crown's ambitious new recycling rate goals, which can help to promote effective recycling and a more responsible supply chain.  This initiative aligns with our World Without Waste strategy —an ambitious, sustainable packaging initiative that is creating systemic change by driving toward a more circular economy for our cans and bottles, core to which is increasing recycling rates and recycled content while ensuring 100% of our packaging is recyclable,” added Ben Jordan.

Crown will report on progress through its yearly sustainability reports and corporate website as it interacts with partners throughout the world to achieve the new targets.