Aluminium Recycling Industry

Germany’s next big aluminium recycling prospect lies in 600kt of solar PV waste
03 OCT 20263MINS

Germany’s next big aluminium recycling prospect lies in 600kt of solar PV waste

Germany is on track to generate over 600,000 tonnes of solar PV waste by 2030, creating a major recovery opportunity for aluminium and silver. A new study by the Fraunhofer Centre for Silicon Photovoltaics (CSP) highlights the approximate raw-material value locked in the country’s installed solar fleet. At the same time, it identifies a key challenge of an efficient recovery of the trapped aluminium and silver. Germany had roughly 5.35 tonnes of PV modules installed by 2023, containing around 660,000 tonnes of aluminium and 3,900 tonnes of silver, with a combined value of about EUR 4.8 billion (USD 5.4 billion) at current prices. These figures have risen considerably since 2023 and would need to almost double by 2030 if Germany is to meet its solar deployment targets. However, turning...

02 OCT 20264MINS

Aluminum Association launches “America Needs Aluminum” campaign

The Aluminum Association launched “America Needs Aluminum,” a new public awareness and advocacy campaign highlighting aluminum’s essential role in the US economy and calling for policies that help America make, recycle and build more with this critical material. The campaign centers on a straightforward message: America needs aluminum - let’s make more of it here. It builds on the association’s broader “all-of-the-above” strategy for aluminum supply, which calls for expanding both recycled and primary aluminum production, strengthening domestic manufacturing, improving energy availability and aggressively confronting unfair trade. “Aluminum is essential to nearly every part of modern American life - from our cars, homes and packaging to the power grid, fighter jets and advanced...


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ASI certifies Amcor Flexibles España, S.L.U against Performance Standard V3.1
Sustainability01 OCT 2026

ASI certifies Amcor Flexibles España, S.L.U against Performance Standard V3.1

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Amcor Flexibles España, S.L.U has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023). The facility’s products include lacquered and/or printed Aluminium or Aluminium complex. It produces packaging solutions for uses including dry food products (e.g., coffee, drink powders, soups, spices), snacks and confectionery packaging; and, other consumer goods requiring high‑barrier, lightweight, and recyclable materials. The facility has an annual production capacity of approximately 337 million square meters (m2) of converted product. The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the...

CMI targets 70% US aluminum can recycling by 2030 as MRF losses come under focus
Recycled AL30 SEPT 2026

CMI targets 70% US aluminum can recycling by 2030 as MRF losses come under focus

The US aluminum beverage can industry is stepping up efforts to recover more used cans as it works toward a 70% aluminum can recycling rate by 2030. The latest push is focusing on a critical weakness in the recycling chain: cans that enter the system but are lost during collection and sorting. The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) is pursuing a combination of improved material recovery facility (MRF) sorting, stronger collection systems, deposit return programs, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and consumer education to increase the amount of aluminum flowing back into the domestic recycling system. Roxanne Sharif, CMI’s director of sustainability, outlined the industry’s priorities during Climate Week NYC, where representatives from across the aluminum supply chain...

Hydro highlights need for stronger aluminium scrap safeguards under EU waste rules
Recycled AL30 SEPT 2026

Hydro highlights need for stronger aluminium scrap safeguards under EU waste rules

Hydro is calling for stronger measures to keep more aluminium scrap in Europe and support investment in the region’s recycling capacity. The company made the call during European Commission Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné’s visit to Hydro’s aluminium recycling plant in Clervaux, Luxembourg. The facility processes post-consumer aluminium scrap from vehicles, buildings and infrastructure and has an annual capacity of 115,000 tonnes. Discussions during the visit covered aluminium scrap exports, the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and the policy conditions needed to support recycling in Europe. Rising scrap exports pressure recyclers The EU is considering a 15 per cent levy on aluminium scrap exports to retain more recyclable metal within Europe. The proposal comes as EU scrap exports...

Aluminium cans take recycling lead at 76%: How far is industry’s 80% aim by 2030?
Recycled AL28 SEPT 2026

Aluminium cans take recycling lead at 76%: How far is industry’s 80% aim by 2030?

Aluminium cans are maintaining a clear lead in global beverage container recycling, with the latest 2026 data depicting a jump in aluminium can recycling rate from 74.8 per cent to 76 per cent. The figures place aluminium well ahead of PET bottles and glass bottles, highlighting the role of beverage cans in the global circular economy. Aluminium cans with clear recycling edge The 2026 Global Beverage Container Recycling Dataset, released by the Global Beverage Can Circularity Alliance (GBCCA), shows a significant gap between aluminium cans and other major beverage packaging formats. Globally, 77 per cent of aluminium cans are collected for recycling and 76 per cent are recycled. By comparison, PET bottles record collection and recycling rates of 69 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively,...

More domestic aluminium, recycling and energy needed to strengthen US supply chain
Recycled AL25 SEPT 2026

More domestic aluminium, recycling and energy needed to strengthen US supply chain

With 18 years of experience in the aluminium industry, Charles Johnson brings a deep understanding of the policy, trade and sustainability issues shaping the US aluminium value chain. As President and CEO of the Aluminum Association, he represents an industry seeking to strengthen domestic supply while maintaining reliable access to imports. In this interview with AL Circle, Johnson discusses why the US needs an “all-of-the-above” approach, combining greater primary production, expanded recycling, stronger energy infrastructure and targeted trade enforcement, to build a larger, more resilient aluminium supply base for American manufacturing. AL Circle: How serious is the US aluminium supply gap right now, and which parts of the value chain are feeling the pressure most acutely? Charles...

The second life of an aluminium can depends on one crucial step
Sustainability24 SEPT 2026

The second life of an aluminium can depends on one crucial step

Aluminium’s lower-energy recycling process offers a major sustainability benefit, but collection, recovery and credible evidence are needed to turn that potential into measurable results. The challenge extends beyond whether a can is recyclable. It is about keeping aluminium in circulation and demonstrating what happens to it after use. GlobalData’s Q3 2025 survey of 21,000 people across 42 countries offers one indication of the communication challenge: consumers associate metal drinks packaging with sustainability far less often than glass. The survey asked about overall metal packaging. Nonetheless, the findings are relevant to aluminium, a major material in beverage packaging. Only 21 per cent of respondents considered metal a sustainable choice for alcoholic drinks packaging, while 22...

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