Europe

Every Can Counts Romania Participates in the 2024 Green Tech & Film Festival

Every Can Counts Romania Participates in the 2024 Green Tech & Film Festival 1824 1368 Matina Zavoudaki

The 7th edition of the Green Tech & Film Festival, held from May 27th to June 3rd, 2024, was designed to inspire sustainable living and raise environmental awareness. Every Can Counts Romania joined this significant initiative to promote aluminium can recycling through creative and engaging activities.

Hosted at Promenada Mall in Bucharest, the festival offered various events highlighting sustainable lifestyle choices and green technologies. Every Can Counts Romania played a key role in showcasing interactive experiences aimed at educating the public about the importance of recycling.

A festival highlight was the PixelCan art installation made from recycled drink cans to demonstrate aluminium’s infinite possibilities. Alongside PixelCan, the Can Art Creative Recycling Exhibition featured an inspiring collection of artwork, including paintings and installations made from aluminium cans, merging art and sustainability.

Interactive elements were central to the campaign’s success. Visitors could engage with a digital puzzle, revealing important messages about recycling aluminium cans. Attendees also experienced the journey of can recycling through VR Glasses: The Magic of Can Recycling, offering an immersive virtual reality view of the recycling process and its impact.

Expanding beyond the festival venue, Every Can Counts Romania brought the recycling message to schools through its environmental education component. Educational materials about can recycling were presented in classrooms throughout the Guerrilla Verde network, with approximately 2,000 students and teachers participating.

Every Can Counts Benelux attends PRIDE Utrecht 2024

Every Can Counts Benelux attends PRIDE Utrecht 2024 1904 562 Matina Zavoudaki

Every Can Counts Benelux collaborated with Statiegeld Nederland to encourage the visitors of PRIDE Utrecht to recycle their drink cans and donate to the Salvation Army.

The deposit return system has been implemented in the Netherlands since April 1st, 2023. Statiegeld Nederland is the implementation organization responsible for all communications around the system. Hence, Every Can Counts is very proud to have the support of Statiegeld Nederland and to join forces by showing the importance of recycling and handing in used aluminium cans.

With a team of four recycling ambassadors and three Statiegeld Nederland volunteers who drove an electric can-shaped car, our team took over the city centre of Utrecht—and with success! The team interacted with hundreds of people and examined the importance of recycling cans when consuming outside of the home. Three big bags filled with cans were donated to the Salvation Army.

Sea Star Festival

Recycling at the Rhythm of the Sea Star Festival

Recycling at the Rhythm of the Sea Star Festival 1904 563 Matina Zavoudaki

Our Serbian initiative, Svaka limenka se računa, was present at the 6th edition of the Sea Star Festival from May 23 to May 26, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of recycling aluminium cans. As in previous years, the Sea Star Festival took place on the beautiful beach of Stella Maris Resort in Umag, Croatia. Breathtaking sunsets combined with the turquoise water of the lagoon make this summer festival very popular among young audiences.

This is why our team was on the spot with the programme’s recycling ambassadors, the eye-catching Every Can Counts PixelCan installation, and special bins for disposing of used aluminium cans, with the mission of encouraging and motivating attendants to recycle their empties. The message that aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely with no losses was conveyed to numerous festival goers.

Tens of thousands of visitors from many countries around the world attended the festival. Like the previous ones, this year’s edition of the Sea Star Festival brought together many regional and European performers. The organizers consider it the most successful yet, bringing the spirit of the biggest Exit stages to the Stella Maris lagoon.

International Recycling Tour 2024: Every Can Counts Champions World Environment Day and #GenerationRestoration

International Recycling Tour 2024: Every Can Counts Champions World Environment Day and #GenerationRestoration 1920 1080 Matina Zavoudaki

Featuring art installations with endangered animals, the tour celebrates the recyclability of drink cans and calls for environmental action across 16 countries.

We are excited to announce the fourth edition of the International Recycling Tour, Every Can Counts’ global awareness campaign launched to celebrate World Environment Day, and highlight the importance of drink can recycling in saving valuable resources and mitigating climate change. Recycling just 1 tonne of aluminium can save 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions and preserve 4 tonnes of bauxite, the essential raw material for aluminium production.

Kicking off on June 5th, with activities spanning the upcoming weekend, this campaign will take place across 16 cities in Europe, Brazil, and the U.A.E. Dedicated recycling ambassadors, embodying the programme’s mission to promote the recycling of drink cans consumed outside the home, will don their backpacks and move through bustling cities, urban parks, popular beaches and festivals, inviting people to recycle their empty cans on the go.

In line with this year’s World Environment Day theme, which calls on everyone to become #GenerationRestoration, the International Recycling Tour 2024 also makes a bold visual statement with its PixelCan installations. Created from over 2,000 aluminium drink cans, these artworks spotlight four iconic animals—polar bear, tiger, sea turtle, and chimpanzee—that are endangered or vulnerable due to ecosystem degradation caused by human activities. Each participating city will display one of these at-risk animals, encouraging people to join the global restoration movement and share their photos on social media.

Nations taking part in the activities include Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Working Towards 100% Drink Can Recycling in 21 Countries Around the World

To keep global warming below 2°C and avoid its most harmful effects, we must slash greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half by 2030. According to the United Nations, halting and reversing the degradation of lands and oceans can prevent the loss of 1 million endangered species. Restoring just 15 percent of ecosystems in priority areas can reduce extinctions by 60 percent through improved habitats.

This urgent need for decarbonisation and reducing humanity’s environmental footprint aligns seamlessly with our mission. Every Can Counts operates in 21 countries, joining forces with drink brands, waste management companies, event organisers, and local authorities to empower individuals to make a difference through simple actions like recycling drink cans. In 2023 alone, we reached 183.5 million people worldwide, helping recycle over 55 million drink cans through event activations and partnerships.

“Our vision is to achieve 100% global drink can recycling! Every can recycled can be back on the shelf in 60 days, and campaigns like the International Recycling Tour bring us one step closer to this vision, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating a truly circular economy for the benefit of both people and nature,” says David Van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Global.

Full List of Locations: Alcalá de Henares, Antwerp, Belgrade, Brest, Bristol, Bucharest, Budapest, Bydgoszcz, Catania, Dubai, Dublin, Kotor, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, The Hague, Thessaloniki

Svaka limenka se računa at the 10th Belgrade Manifesto

Svaka limenka se računa at the 10th Belgrade Manifesto 1904 563 Matina Zavoudaki

The recently concluded 1oth Belgrade Manifesto provided a significant platform for our Serbian team, Svaka limenka se računa, to inspire and influence individuals towards more sustainable choices. This major event in Belgrade was a prime opportunity for our team to emphasize the importance of aluminium recycling, mainly targeting younger audiences.

Svaka limenka se računa took an active role throughout the event, held at the iconic Kalemegdan fortress in the heart of the city. Recycling ambassadors, equipped with backpacks, actively encouraged visitors to dispose of aluminium cans responsibly. Designated recycling bins were strategically placed for easy waste disposal. Over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, a substantial amount of aluminium was collected, reinforcing the message that aluminium is a material that can be endlessly recycled with no losses.

The Belgrade Manifesto is renowned for gathering numerous exhibitors from Serbia and the region, showcasing a variety of tourist and gastronomic offerings in creatively presented displays. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Kalemegdan fortress, which offers panoramic views of the Danube and Sava rivers, this event annually attracts a diverse audience eager to explore cultural, culinary, and recreational opportunities.

Promoting drink can recycling at Science Picnic

Promoting drink can recycling at Science Picnic 1904 563 Matina Zavoudaki

At the recent Science Picnic held on May 17th and 18th, the message echoed clearly: “The main goal is to learn how to defend nature.” This vibrant event, hosted at the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry in Belgrade, gathered enthusiasts of all ages under the banner of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

In collaboration with Ball Packaging, our Serbian team, Svaka limenka se računa, highlighted a shared commitment to environmental protection. Their participation underscored a unified message that organizers, participants, and visitors echoed: let’s defend nature.

Our initiative actively promoted environmental awareness by encouraging attendees, particularly young people, to recycle their empty aluminium cans. Throughout the venue, dedicated recycling ambassadors equipped with backpacks facilitated the convenient recycling of used drink cans on the go. Strategically placed recycling points and the eye-catching XO Box creatively supported the importance of recycling in safeguarding our planet.

The Science Picnic itself was a testament to educational engagement and community spirit. Seventeen faculties and various organizations collaborated to offer a rich programme tailored for younger participants, emphasizing sustainability and ecological responsibility themes. Visitors were treated to the serene green spaces of Belgrade’s historic Faculty of Forestry, fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and its conservation.

Central to the event’s mission was the drive to reduce plastic usage, aligning with global efforts to combat plastic pollution and promote eco-friendly practices. Through interactive exhibits and educational workshops, attendees were empowered to adopt more sustainable habits and contribute positively to environmental conservation.

Cada Lata Cuenta and Real Betis Balompié Unite Through Recycling to Celebrate the Match for Sustainability

Cada Lata Cuenta and Real Betis Balompié Unite Through Recycling to Celebrate the Match for Sustainability 1904 561 Matina Zavoudaki

Our initiative, Cada Lata Cuenta, has teamed up with Real Betis Balompié, a top-tier team in the Spanish soccer league, to promote sustainability during the Forever Green Match. This collaboration aims to encourage fans to recycle aluminium cans both inside and outside the stadium.

Over 50 recycling ambassadors are involved in this activation, each equipped with the programme’s signature backpack to collect drink cans and spread the message of aluminium’s infinite recyclability. Additionally, Cada Lata Cuenta placed yellow bins in the fan zones, uniting efforts with the vendors in these areas to ensure a separate collection system and achieve 100% recycling.

Inside the stadium, recycling ambassadors were also on hand to collect organic waste to reduce the contamination of recyclable materials while educating fans and fostering a culture of environmental protection.

Pablo García, the director of Cada Lata Cuenta, explains, “Each recycled can saves up to 70% of the water needed to produce a new one from virgin material and can be recycled infinitely. That’s why we joined forces with the Forever Green initiative to tackle drought. Recycling drink cans and packaging also helps preserve water.”

Through this impactful initiative, supported by Forever Green aims to highlight the threat of drought and encourage responsible water usage, leveraging the platform of sports. To achieve this goal, Real Betis will carry out up to 40 initiatives on match days to champion the battle against water scarcity.

A Tasty Story from Tašmajdan Park: Food and Recycling

A Tasty Story from Tašmajdan Park: Food and Recycling 1904 563 Matina Zavoudaki

From May 10th to 12th, the Street Food Festival delighted visitors at Tašmajdan Park, with our Serbian initiative, Svaka limenka se računa, actively participating in promoting drink can recycling and environmental conservation.

Throughout the three-day festival, attendees enjoyed a diverse array of cuisines from around the world, including American, Lebanese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and traditional Serbian dishes. Amidst the culinary delights, our team facilitated a socially responsible campaign encouraging festival-goers to recycle their aluminium cans. Multiple recycling points were strategically placed across the venue, equipped with special bins for easy disposal, accompanied by recycling ambassadors with the programme’s signature backpacks designed to collect used cans on the spot.

Adding to the festival’s artistic flair, street art performers created a striking PixelCan installation made from 2,000 recycled cans. This installation served as a visual reminder of the importance of recycling and environmental protection. Tašmajdan Park welcomed over 15,000 visitors during the festival, including young people, families, tourists, and food enthusiasts, all enjoying the picturesque surroundings of one of Belgrade’s most beautiful parks.

This event marks the first in a series of Street Food Festivals planned for this year, where Svaka limenka se računa will continue its mission to raise awareness about environmental stewardship and the significance of recycling.

Každá plechovka se počítá Launches A Sustainable Initiative at United Islands of Prague 2024

Každá plechovka se počítá Launches A Sustainable Initiative at United Islands of Prague 2024 1904 566 Matina Zavoudaki

The first May weekend was filled with sunshine and sustainability as our metal heart made its mark at the United Islands of Prague. The heart, accompanied by information panels, was a collaborative effort between our initiative in Czechia, Každá plechovka se počítá, and the festival.

Visitors to the city centre’s islands in the middle of the Vltava River had the opportunity to engage with the metal heart, recycle their empty drink cans while gaining insight into the importance of recycling and environmental conservation. The vibrant panels provided valuable information, shedding light on the significance of every aluminium can and the collective impact of recycling.

United Islands is an international multi-genre music festival held in Prague since 2004. The festival is admission-free and showcases new musical discoveries while also offering a rich non-musical program reflecting current social issues. It traditionally takes place in the historic centre of the Prague islands. The vibrant atmosphere and the enthusiastic participation of visitors added to the wonderful experience.

Every Can Counts Rainbow Arrives in Leeds to Celebrate Earth Day 2024

Every Can Counts Rainbow Arrives in Leeds to Celebrate Earth Day 2024 1904 565 Matina Zavoudaki

The four metre structure is made from more than 2,500 recycled cans and has been created to raise awareness about the importance of recycling. The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow was revealed on Friday 19th April and will be on display outside the station by City Square in Leeds until Monday night which ties into this year’s Earth Day.

Every Can Counts UK Commemorates Earth Day

Earth Day hopes to inspire individuals to yield their power and influence as consumers by making more sustainable choices.

Last year, over 9 billion drink cans were recycled in the UK—the equivalent of covering Elland Road’s football pitch with drink cans almost a million times ove. Moreover, recycling one tonne of aluminium saves nine tonnes of CO2 emissions, meaning that in 2023, the carbon savings generated by recycling drink cans equated to taking over 246,500 cars off the road.

According to our team’s new research, Leeds residents drink an average of five cans a week, of which people say they recycle around 74%. Even though half (54%) say they are more aware of environmental issues than they were 12 months ago, 41% admit that they put recyclable items in refuse bins if recycling facilities aren’t available.

Furthermore, the biggest barrier locals face whilst recycling is the lack of recycling bins in public places (68%), followed by the desire for more recyclable packaging (45%) and clearer signage on recycling bins (40%). Half (54%) also agree that more needs to be done to educate young people about the importance of recycling.

So… What Can You Do to Help?

In Leeds, eye-catching yellow recycling-on-the-go bins for drinking cans can be found across the city centre and in town centres including Chapel Allerton, Headingley, Garforth, Morley, Otley and Wetherby. This makes it easier than ever for all residents to recycle all they can when out and about as well as at home in their green bins, helping Leeds’ ambition to ultimately become a carbon-neutral city by 2030.

In 2023/24, 398 tonnes of aluminium were collected from the green and recycling-on-the-go high street bins, the equivalent of over 28 million drink cans. If every Leeds household put two more drink cans in their green bin every collection, there would be another 19 million cans recycled in Leeds each year.

Last month also saw 10,000 more Leeds households move on to fortnightly collections, aimed at supporting and encouraging increased recycling. A further 20,000 more are due to move on to weekly collections from early summer.

We want the Every Can Counts Rainbow installation to act as a reminder that your small actions CAN make a big impact on our planet. By recycling just one aluminium drink you could save enough energy to power your laptop for 4 hours. So, this #EarthDay we want you to remember that although your drink can might be small, your actions really add up to paint a bigger picture… much like the 2,500 drink cans which make up our colorful archway!

How You Can Get Involved

Alongside the new installation, our initiative in the UK is also giving away a £150 Trinity Leeds Gift Card to one lucky winner. To enter the competition, entrants must post a photo of the rainbow in Leeds on InstagramFacebook, or X before midnight on Thursday 25th April, using the #EveryCanCounts hashtag and tagging our team’s social media channels.

The full competition T&Cs can be found here.

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts UK, said: “We’re delighted to see our rainbow installation make its Leeds debut to mark Earth Day this year and look forward to seeing the photography locals capture as part of our competition!

“As well as brightening up the city centre, we hope our installation reminds people about the benefits of recycling their drink cans and makes them feel empowered to make sustainable choices.

“Aluminium can be recycled time and time again, and making cans from recycled metal uses 95% less energy than making them from raw materials. The people of Leeds can play their part in this process by ensuring their empty cans end up in the right bin, allowing this valuable material to remain in circulation.”  

Councillor Paul Wray, Leeds City Council deputy executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space at Leeds City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see this striking rainbow arch in Leeds to celebrate Earth Day, hopefully it will get people talking about what more they can recycle to look after the planet.

“If we can all pledge to recycle our drink cans when we’re out and about, or at home in the green recycling bin, then these small changes can make a huge difference for the city and the planet.”