Global Summit highlights the aluminium beverage can industry’s pathway to continued leadership on sustainability

Major aluminium organisations from around the world — the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas), Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), International Aluminium Institute (IAI), and Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) — convened together with more than 150 leaders at the Global Aluminium Can Sustainability Summit.

Leaders from across the aluminium beverage can value chain met during this two-day Summit, which took place 1-2 October during London Metal Exchange (LME) Week, to discuss how the industry can enhance its leadership on key sustainability issues such as decarbonisation pathways and recycled content measurement. The Summit demonstrated how the aluminium beverage can value chain is actively working to reduce planet-warming emissions while simultaneously strengthening the can’s sustainability credentials.

“Together we are making substantial achievements, leading ambitious recycling efforts and pioneering innovative decarbonisation programs,” said IAI’s Director of Scenarios and Forecasts Marlen Bertram. “Our partnership with global leaders from around the world is the necessary action required to create a more sustainable future for our planet.”

The beverage can’s sustainability advantages provide environmentally conscious consumers with a package made of a material that recycles forever, more than pays for its own cost of recycling, and that delivers significant carbon emissions reductions upon recycling.

“Recycling aluminium dramatically speeds up global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” said CMI President Robert Budway. “Globally, aluminium recycling saves 95 percent of the energy needed for primary aluminium production.”

In addition to focused discussions around decarbonisation, the Summit reaffirmed the need for increased global standardisation on how the industry calculates recycled content in aluminium beverage cans and reports sustainability data.

“As the standards and certification organisation for the full aluminium value chain, ASI recognises the importance of product-related claims as one driver of sustainability,” said Dr. Fiona Solomon, CEO of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. “CMI’s method for recycled content in aluminium cans contributes to an important conversation about the balance between market expectations and sectoral change.”

“We are proud of the fact that aluminium beverage cans are the most recycled packaging in the world,” said Cátilo Cândido, president of Abralatas. “Consumers look to our industry for sustainability solutions because metal recycles forever and we recycle cans efficiently and at scale. We are very pleased to bring Brazil as an example for the whole world, achieving recycling rates in average above 98 percent for more than 15 years.”

Summit speakers included executives and thought leaders from inside and outside the aluminium beverage can industry, including CEOs from leading aluminium beverage can sheet suppliers and can manufacturers. This includes five generous events sponsors: Ardagh Metal Packaging, Ball Corporation, CANPACK, Crown Holdings, and Envases.

“Our collaboration with leaders across the metal packaging industry is key to ensure that aluminium beverage cans remain a circularity champion,” said Krassimira Kazashka, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe. “We are grateful for the innovative spirit and ideas put forward at the Summit and look forward to working together toward decarbonisation and recycling progress in the future.”