The Swedish deposit return system (DRS) operator Returpack/Pantamera reported that in 2025, over 3 billion PET bottles and aluminium cans were returned via Sweden’s DRS. Compared to the record of 2024, the 2025 count marks an increase of 130 million. The operator adds that returning the aluminium and PET containers via the deposit system cuts the carbon footprint by half, thereby promoting recycling and sustainability. 

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2025 data shows that material customers received 27,826 tonnes of aluminium and 24,835 tonnes of PET.  On average, each person returned 283 containers, reflecting an improvement of the 2024 performance by 4 per cent. The overall return rate of Sweden also increased by 88.4 per cent, bringing the nation close to its target of a 90 per cent return rate.  

The figures underline the increasing importance of high-capacity reverse vending machines, enabling users to deposit entire bags of containers in one go. Although they make up just 14 per cent of all machines, they handle 45 per cent of the total return volume. Returpack/Pantamera noted that regions where these machines are installed consistently see higher return volumes. 

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With a combined target for revamping the containers while upholding environmental goals, Returpack/Pantamera announced a plan in 2025 of increasing deposits on aluminium cans as well as PET bottles, both small and large. It reported the deposit and return of 2.7 billion containers, which fell back into the recycling loop in 2023. This was in line with an 88.5 per cent deposit rate, avoiding carbon emissions of 180,000 tonnes.

In May 2024, the Hungary-based supermarket outlet of Aldi reported that about 140 million one-time-use packaging containers were returned using in-store REpont machines, which totalled to an average daily deposit of over 3 thousand aluminium, glass and plastic bottles at each store.

So far, Sweden has collected aluminium cans and PET bottles that add up to 55 billion, reinforced by its joint efforts with the producer-retailer-consumer chain.

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