Italy records 92.8% aluminium beverage can recycling rate in 2025

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CIAL said Italy’s aluminium packaging recycling rate reached 69.5 per cent in 2025, while aluminium beverage cans achieved a significantly higher recycling rate of 92.8 per cent.

According to the consortium, the country’s overall aluminium packaging recovery rate stood at 72.9 per cent during the year.

Although the recovery figure was slightly lower than the adjusted 2024 level, CIAL said this was mainly due to a 7 per cent increase in the volume of aluminium packaging placed on the market rather than weaker recycling performance.

The organisation added that changes in calculation methods under updated European regulations also affected the figures, including adjustments related to aluminium content in composite packaging materials.

Around 65,000 tonnes of aluminium were reportedly sent for recycling in Italy during 2025, marking a 42 per cent increase compared with the previous year and the highest level recorded in recent years.

CIAL said the recycling activity helped avoid around 460,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions and saved approximately 205,000 tonnes of oil equivalent.

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When composite waste and revised European calculation methodologies are included, Italy’s overall aluminium packaging recycling rate rises to roughly 72 per cent, according to the consortium.

The 92.8 per cent recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans places Italy among Europe’s strongest-performing recycling systems.

CIAL noted that the figure is comparable to leading European deposit return schemes, where average beverage can recycling rates are also around 92 per cent.

Across Europe as a whole, including both deposit-return systems and separate collection systems, the average aluminium beverage cans recycling rate stands closer to 75 per cent.

Italy’s beverage can recycling rate increased by 5.5 percentage points compared with the previous year.

The organisation said the country’s current recycling framework has already exceeded the European Union’s 2025 recycling target of 50 per cent and is on track to surpass the EU’s 2030 target of 60 per cent.

The latest figures come as other European aluminium markets continue to face mixed conditions. While recycling performance has improved in some countries, Aluminium Deutschland recently reported a decline in Germany’s recycled aluminium production during the first quarter of 2026 due to weak demand and scrap shortages.

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