EAPG members join forces to boost the circularity of aluminium beverage cans

Four prominent flat-rolled aluminium manufacturers, members of the European Aluminium Packaging Group (EAPG)—Constellium, Elval, Novelis, and Speira—have agreed to collaborate on a standardisation initiative to enhance the recycled content levels of beverage cans. This initiative is geared towards significantly reducing carbon emissions. The primary focus lies in increasing the recyclability of can ends.

Currently, aluminium beverage cans contain two different aluminium alloys for the body, and the can end. While the aluminium used for the can body already boasts a high recycled content and supports exceptional recyclability, there remains untapped sustainability potential concerning the can end.

About the project

The project's central objective is to investigate alternative alloys that are more conducive to recycling for the can end. Utilising recycled aluminium substantially reduces direct carbon emissions and conserves up to 95 per cent of energy compared to primary aluminium production.

“Collaboration and pooling of expertise on this vital topic is something that all company members of the Packaging Group of European Aluminium are fully committed to, and that will help decarbonise our industry“, stated Maarten Labberton, Director of the European Aluminium Packaging Group.

Introducing an alternative alloy with a significant recycled content for the can end will empower can manufacturers, who play a crucial role in this process, to deliver cans with markedly diminished carbon emissions. The overarching objective is to engineer an aluminium beverage can that can be crafted from as much as 100 per cent recycled aluminium and introduce it to the market.

EAPG will facilitate the execution of this project, drawing upon its extensive expertise in spearheading collaborative endeavours of this nature. This multi-year initiative seeks to actively involve additional stakeholders along the value chain who play integral roles in the can-making, filling, and sealing processes.

 “The project is a key driver towards full circularity and will make beverage cans an even more sustainable packaging. In addition, with the steady growth of Deposit Return Systems across Europe, we will be able to recycle more cans via can-to-can remelting solutions, in line with the joint roadmap with the canmakers towards 100% beverage can recycling by 2030,” added Maarten Labberton.