Twee op de vijf Nederlanders recyclet drankblikjes buitenshuis. Dit blijkt uit onderzoek van Every Can Counts (mei 2023), het Europese Initiatief dat inspireert en aanzet tot het recyclen van drankblikjes. Dit is een positieve toename ten opzichte van een jaar eerder. Toen gaf slechts 23 procent van de Nederlanders aan buiten de deur blikjes te recyclen. Het lijkt er dan ook op dat het statiegeld op blik al effect heeft. Toch laten de resultaten zien dat er nog steeds ruimte is voor verbetering. Reden te meer voor Every Can Counts (ECC) om het recyclen van drankblikjes ‘on-the-go’ extra onder de aandacht te brengen door middel van hun jaarlijkse internationale bewustwordingscampagne ‘International Reycling Tour’.

On-the-go recyclen

Op straat, onderweg, op openbare plekken en tijdens festivals en evenementen (zoals Koningsdag, Bevrijdingsfestival en Pride) – we nuttigen massaal drankjes uit blik wanneer we buitenshuis zijn. Maar laten dit nu juist ook de plekken zijn waar men het lastig vindt om de lege drankblikjes te recyclen en waar inleverpunten voor drankblikjes nog schaars zijn. Vooral bij festivals en grote evenementen (36 procent), maar ook in openbare ruimtes zoals een park en op straat (35 procent), komt dit het vaakst voor. Ruim 60 procent van de Nederlanders pleit dan ook dat er buiten de deur meer punten moeten komen voor het recyclen en inleveren van drankblikjes.

“Met de introductie van het statiegeld op drankblikjes is een stap in de goede richting gezet, maar als het gaat om blikjes die onderweg, op openbare plaatsen, tijdens festivals en sportevenementen worden gebruikt kunnen we echt nog het verschil maken. Dit blijkt ook uit het onderzoek. Ruim de helft van de Nederlanders gaf aan weleens een drankblikje achter te laten op de plek waar ze het consumeren. Deze bevindingen zijn een belangrijk signaal dat er nog werk aan de winkel is op het gebied van bewustwording en gedragsverandering. Maar ook dat er meer goede recycling- en inzameloplossingen voor buitenshuis moeten komen.”

David Van Heuverswyn, directeur van Every Can Counts Europe

Eindeloos recyclebaar 

Aluminium blik is één van de meest populaire verpakkingsmaterialen voor drankjes ter wereld en dat is niet voor niets. Aluminium drankblikjes hebben veel duurzame eigenschappen. Uit het onderzoek van ECC (2023) blijkt dat een groot deel van de Nederlanders nog niet bewust is van de duurzaamheid van aluminium blikjes. Slechts 15 procent van de Nederlanders verkoos aluminium blik boven plastic, glas en karton als het aankomt op duurzame verpakkingsmateriaal.

Wist je bijvoorbeeld dat…

• een gerecycled drankblikje in slechts 60 dagen weer als nieuw drankblikje in de schappen kan liggen;
• door nieuwe aluminium drankblikjes te produceren uit gerecyclede blikjes, in plaats van ‘nieuw’ primair aluminium, er tot wel 95 procent minder energie verbruikt wordt en net zo veel minder schadelijke uitstoot gegenereerd; 
• de ecologische voetprint van aluminium kleiner wordt wanneer er meer aluminium blikjes gerecycled worden.

International Recycling Tour

Om Nederlanders bewuster te maken van en te inspireren tot het recyclen van gebruikte drankblikjes buitenshuis en on-the-go, organiseert ECC voor het derde jaar op rij een recycling- ‘awareness’- programma ‘International Recycling Tour’. Deze bewustwordingscampagne vindt tegelijkertijd plaats op achttien verschillende plekken in zestien verschillende landen: België, Brazilië, Frankrijk, Griekenland, Hongarije, Ierland, Italië, Montenegro, Oostenrijk, Polen, Roemenië, Servië, Spanje, Tsjechië, het Verenigd Koninkrijk en Nederland. Door middel van ludieke acties en activiteiten wordt de boodschap rondom drankblikjes onder de aandacht gebracht.

Op zaterdag 3 juni trapt Every Can Counts in Nederland de International Recycling Tour 2023 af tijdens Pride Utrecht. Een team van ambassadeurs en influencers zal de feestende bezoekers tijdens deze feestelijke dag helpen om hun gebruikte aluminium drankblikjes te recyclen en hen bewust maken van het ‘on-the-go’ recyclen en het statiegeldsysteem.

“Pride Utrecht is een vrolijke, kleurrijke dag. Juist tijdens dit soort dagen willen wij mensen bewust maken en helpen om hun drankblikjes te recyclen. Het ‘on-the-go’ recyclen is een kwestie van gewoonte en Pride Utrecht is de ideale gelegenheid om deze gewoonte op een feestelijke manier te starten!”

David van Heuverswyn, directeur Every Can Counts Europe

Over het onderzoek

In opdracht van Every Can Counts heeft de online marktonderzoekstool Factsnapp onder een representatieve consumentenpanel onderzoek gedaan naar het recyclegedrag van Nederlands als het aankomt op drankblikjes. Aan het onderzoek hebben 500 respondenten meegedaan. Het onderzoek vond in mei 2023 plaats. 

Brussels, 14 December 2022 – The latest report by Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium shows that the overall recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland remained high in 2020 at 73% (72.8%). With a 3% points drop compared to 2019 and a growth of 9% cans consumed, the total amount of aluminium recycled from cans reached a record level of 510,000 tonnes, an increase of more than 20,000 tonnes since the previous year. This represents a total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions saving of 4,2 million tonnes of CO2eq (equivalent to the amount of GHG emissions produced by a European town of nearly half a million inhabitants like Toulouse or Gdansk*.)

Can manufacturers (members of Metal Packaging Europe) and their aluminium suppliers (members of European Aluminium) welcomed the new result and stressed that despite the introduction of the new EU recycling reporting rules and the spectacular growth in cans consumed, the total tonnage of recycled aluminium cans has increased. Most EU Member States now report at the point of entrance of a recycling facility, instead of the collection phase. This has resulted in a recycling drop for most packaging materials.

“We are fully supportive of the new EU recycling reporting rules as these measure ‘real’ recycling and we are pleased to notice that this has resulted in only a very minor and likely only temporary drop in the can recycling rate. The aluminium beverage can already meets the highest recyclability performance grade of 95% as proposed in the new draft for a Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation’’ said Léonie Knox-Peebles, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe. As aluminium beverage cans are fully circular and can be recycled endlessly without losing the aluminium’s inherent properties, we are confident that even in a growing market we will be able to meet our 100% beverage can recycling ambition by 2030”.

“With more and more countries turning to Deposit Return Systems (DRS) we will be able to recycle more cans via a can-to-can remelting solution, generating maximum environmental benefits and we are calling upon those countries with classic EPR systems to invest more into the collection and sorting of the whole aluminium packaging fraction in order to fully close the material loop’’ Maarten Labberton, Director Packaging Group at European Aluminium, commented. “Although we are surprised by the unfounded high reuse targets in the new EU proposal, we welcome the obligation to collect 90% or more of metal and plastic beverage containers for recycling, preferably via DRS. A Deposit Return System should be balanced, which means that it should be run by an independent operator, have variable deposit fees and no cross subsidies between the materials concerned.’’

This map overview provides a detailed overview of aluminium beverage can recycling rates by country in 2020. Recycling rates have been calculated on the basis of the new EU reporting rules, insofar available.

*If a yearly GHG emission of 9,2 tonnes is assumed per EU citizen as used in the Product Environmental Footprint methodology, see Normalisation method and data for Environmental Footprints – Deliverable 2 of the AA Environmental Footprint and Material Efficiency Support for Product Policy (No. 70307/2012/ENV.C.1/635340)

Read the full report by Metal Packaging Europe & European Aluminium here

Gesterkt door de succesvolle resultaten van de campagne van vorig jaar, die meer dan vier miljoen mensen in heel Europa bereikte, begon Every Can Counts deze zomer aan een nog ambitieuzere campagne. Dit jaar konden Brazilië en Colombia aan de lijst van landen toegevoegd worden. De International Recycling Tour 2022 een inspirerend project dat het recyclen van blikjes combineert met milieubewustzijn en leuke activiteiten. Ambassadeurs die kleurrijke recyclingrugzakken droegen, maakten contact met duizenden mensen en inspireerden hen om hun drankblikjes in de juiste prullenbak te deponeren.

Vrijwilligers van Every Can Counts werden gespot in 24 steden op iconische locaties zoals de Eiffeltoren in Parijs en Copacabana in Rio. De tour kwam overal; van het grootste picknick- en zwemgebied van Servië, Ada Ciganlija, tot de parken Portheimka in Praag en het Vondelpark in Amsterdam, en van de Triomfboog van Boekarest tot Florence, en tot de zandstranden van Kreta. De nu al beroemde Pixelcan werd een showstopper in alle steden waar hij verscheen. Ook was op verschillende plaatsen de iconische #EveryCanCounts Rainbow te zien, gemaakt van meer dan 2500 gerecyclede blikjes, die meteen een Instagram-hit werd. En dan waren er nog de interactieve spelletjes en wedstrijden, samen met dansers, dj’s en entertainers om de buzz te vergroten.

De onmisbare partnerschappen met lokale autoriteiten, milieubewuste influencers en populaire drankmerken waren een groot deel van de recyclingactiviteiten, die de hele zomer zullen doorgaan op verschillende locaties waar het Every Can Counts-programma actief is.

Bekijk de hoogtepunten

Maar dit is meer dan een recyclingtour

Een gemeenschappelijk punt van zorg dat werd benadrukt door de mensen die met de recyclingambassadeurs contact hadden, was de bescherming van het milieu. En hoewel recycling erg belangrijk is, kunnen er meer dingen worden gedaan om dit doel te bereiken. Dit werd verder aangetoond door een onderzoek uitgevoerd in 14 Europese landen door het LUCID-onderzoeksbureau in samenwerking met Every Can Counts. Uit het onderzoek bleek dat maar liefst 9 van de 10 Europeanen zouden willen dat bedrijven de recycleerbaarheid van hun drankverpakkingen verbeteren.

87% van de Europeanen vindt dat bedrijven alleen verpakkingsmateriaal moeten gebruiken dat oneindig recyclebaar is.

Hoewel individuele verantwoordelijkheid erg belangrijk is, zei 87% van de respondenten dat bedrijven alleen verpakkingen mogen gebruiken die oneindig recyclebaar zijn. Iets minder dan 7 op de 10 vindt dat consumenten verantwoordelijk moeten worden gehouden voor de verpakking die ze kopen. Gevraagd naar noodzakelijke initiatieven om het milieu te beschermen, gaf 69% van de mensen prioriteit aan het verminderen van afval, 63% moedigde individuen aan om meer te recyclen, gevolgd door initiatieven voor het vervangen van fossiele brandstoffen door hernieuwbare energie en het ontmoedigen van bedrijven (via belasting of anderszins) van producten gebruiken die het milieu schaden.

Maar recycling is een uitdaging en consumenten zouden graag meer ondersteuning willen. Van de meer dan 12.800 geïnterviewde mensen recyclet slechts 52% altijd hun blikjes wanneer ze thuis zijn, en het recyclingpercentage daalt nog verder wanneer ze buitenshuis zijn, waarbij slechts 33% van de Europeanen hun blikjes in de recyclingbakken plaatst wanneer ze op het werk zijn, en 30% als je onderweg bent.. 

“Ondanks de uitdagingen die in ons onderzoek naar voren kwamen, geven de warme en gepassioneerde reacties die onze recyclingambassadeurs tijdens onze campagne ondervonden, ons het optimisme en de vastberadenheid om de International Recycling Tour groter en beter te maken! Laten we in de tussentijd #KeepTheCycleGoing in de praktijk br door je lege drankblikjes altijd in de juiste bak te deponeren!” zegt David Van Heuverswyn, directeur van Every Can Counts Europe.

Bekijk het volledige rapport hier (in Engels).

Empowered by the successful results of last year’s ‘on the go’ recycling campaign, which reached over four million people across Europe, Every Can Counts kicked off an even more ambitious campaign this summer. 

Adding Brazil and Colombia to its roster of countries, the International Recycling Tour 2022 is an inspiring project that combines drink can recycling with environmental awareness and fun activities. With ambassadors carrying colourful recycling backpacks, the tour connected with thousands of people during World Environment Day, celebrating public spaces and inspiring people to put their drink cans in the right bin.

Volunteers for Every Can Counts were spotted in 24 cities in iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Copacabana in Rio, and various vibrant and imaginative installations and activities left their mark on the public. There was something for everyone; from Serbia’s biggest picnic and swimming area Ada Ciganlija to the evergreen parks Portheimka in Prague and Vondelpark in Amsterdam, and from Bucharest’s Arch of Triumph to Florence, and to Crete’s sandy beaches, little spectacles greeted cheerful guests. The now famous Pixelcan became a showstopper in all the cities it appeared, with a notable appearance by a Jubilee-themed version in the UK. Also, on display in various places was the iconic #EveryCanCounts Rainbow, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, which became an instant Instagram hit. And then there were the interactive games and competitions, along with dancers, DJs and entertainers to add to the buzz.

The indispensable partnerships with local authorities, eco-conscious influencers and popular drink brands were a big part of the recycling activities, which will continue throughout summer in different locations where the Every Can Counts programme operates.

Watch the highlights

But this is more than a recycling tour

A common concern highlighted by the citizens who interacted with the recycling ambassadors was the protection of the environment. And while recycling is very important, more things can be done to advance this goal. This was further demonstrated by a survey conducted in 14 European countries by the LUCID polling agency in association with Every Can Counts. The survey found that a staggering 9 out of 10 Europeans would like companies to improve the recyclability of their drink packaging. 

87% of Europeans think that companies should only use packaging that is infinitely recyclable

At the same time, while individual responsibility is very important, 87% of respondents said that companies should only use packaging that is infinitely recyclable, while 89% believe that companies should be held responsible for the packaging they select, and should only use fully recyclable packaging. Less than 7 out of 10 believe consumers should be held responsible for the packaging they buy. When asked about necessary initiatives to protect the environment, 69% of people prioritised reducing waste, 63% encouraging individuals to recycle more, followed by initiatives around reversing habitat loss, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and discouraging companies (through taxation or otherwise) from using products that damage the environment. 

But recycling is challenging, and consumers would like more support. Amongst the more than 12,800 people interviewed, only 52% always recycle their drink cans when at home, and recycling rates drop even further when out of the home, with only 33% of Europeans placing their drink cans in recycling bins when at work, and 30% when out and about. 

“Despite the challenges highlighted in our survey, the warm and passionate response that our recycling ambassadors encountered during our campaign gives us the optimism and the determination to make the International Recycling Tour bigger and better! In the meantime, let’s #KeepTheCycleGoing by always putting your empty drink cans in the right bin!” says David Van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Europe.

See full report here.

Photographs by architect Costas Spathis, often inspired by nature and Greece, travel across the globe. His unique outlook on the world, which is both abstract and totally symmetrical, has earned him 360.000 followers on Instagram, while his images convey different messages through his dynamic ‘less is more’ philosophy. It is this unique outlook and his love of nature that encouraged our initiative in Greece to appoint him as artistic director of its new public awareness campaign on the benefits of aluminium can recycling and circular economy. 

When asked about the campaign, Spathis stated: “Through the art of photography and generally through my work, I try to make people more conscious of the environment; I try to promote the grandeur of nature and highlight the value of recycling. Through this collaboration, I aim to emphasise the unique properties of aluminium as a sustainable packaging material, as well as the significant efforts being made by Kathe Kouti Metrai. As part of this campaign, I am creating messages by stressing the relationship between man and can, and using shapes and compositions featuring aluminium drink cans”.

Aluminium is a valuable material that does not belong in the general waste bin. It can enjoy endless life cycles and take on thousands of forms. Aluminium cans are recycled far more frequently than any other packaging worldwide, thus saving 95% energy compared to their primary production. Their recycling also contributes to an equivalent reduction in CO2  emissions, which are responsible for the greenhouse effect. The perpetual life cycle of aluminium drink cans is what inspired Spathis, since aluminium can be recycled while still maintaining its quality. His images remind people to throw their empty cans in the right bin, thus embracing circular economy and r contributing  to a more sustainable future for the planet.

Recycling out of home: We can do better

Even though recycling is now a way of life in most households, recycling out of home has not yet found the place it deserves in people’s conscience. In Greece, the average rate of aluminium can recycling is 55%, which makes the programme’s presence in the country even more important, since its goal is to inform and encourage  people  to recycle every soft drink, beer or water can, wherever they are. According to Eirini Topouzidou, the Every Can Counts programme manager in Greece, “every can that finds its way into the right bin saves energy and natural resources, and brings us one step closer to a sustainable way of life. Spathis’ photographs manage to get this message across in the best way possible, and also express the philosophy of our programme, which is always in search of creative ways to inspire people to change their habits and view recycling in a different light”.

The awareness campaign was well received by the greek media and was featured in popular websites and magazines.

Our team and the canned wine company will work together to help inspire and encourage drink can recycling amongst consumers in the UK.

Founded in 2019 by the trio, Simon Rollings, Lisa Solovieva and Ben Franks, Canned Wine Co. aims to make exciting and high-quality wine more convenient and accessible to drinkers in portioned cans, whilst also helping to reduce the environmental impact of wine by using aluminium packaging.

The award-winning Bath-based business has grown rapidly over the past two years – increasing its range to six wines, supplying the National Trust sites and hundreds of independent venues across the UK, and expanding to Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands and Greece.

Simon Rollings, co-founder and CEO of Canned Wine Co., said: “Reducing waste, both wine wastage and packaging, is at the core of our brand. The infinite recyclability and lower carbon footprint compared to bottles made cans the obvious packaging choice.

As canned wines are frequently consumed in outdoor settings, we want to explicitly encourage the recycling of aluminium cans. The partnership with Every Can Counts is an important pillar of our upcoming sustainability strategy, and we are excited to use Every Can Counts bins at events around the country to help more cans enter the recycling loop.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts UK, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to announce our latest drink brand partnership with Canned Wine Co. Their mission to bring more sustainable choices to consumers and the drink industry really resonates with what Every Can Counts is all about.

“We’re looking forward to working with Canned Wine Co. to raise awareness about the endless recyclability of drink cans and encourage people to do their bit to keep the cycle going.”

Every Can Counts collaborates with drink manufacturers as well as the wider drink can and recycling industries as part of its mission to reach a 100% drink can recycling rate.

The programme and its funders help to raise awareness of the importance of recycling empty drink cans with marketing activity and on-the-ground consumer engagement. This includes exhibiting an eye-catching Every Can Counts rainbow installation made from recycled cans, which has appeared in multiple high-profile locations across the country and was most recently in Glasgow during COP26.

Every Can Counts UK also runs a Green Can Award scheme which recognises the recycling efforts of local businesses, community groups and charities. The programme also works to make it easier for consumers to recycle their empty cans while they’re out-of-home, and its team of ambassadors spread the recycling message and collect cans at many festivals and public events throughout the year.

For more details about Canned Wine Co., visit www.cannedwine.co.

“We want to offer our visitors a fantastic ice skating experience and encourage them to take care of the environment. Together with Every Can Counts and KAWEA we have set up recycling containers to collect beverage cans to bring them back in the recycling loop”, says Nina Mally from “Grazer Winterwelt“.

Claudia Bierth, spokesperson for Every Can Counts Austria, is very pleased about the cooperation: “More and more event organizers approach us to make their events greener. In the case of beverage cans, recycling not only means conservation of resources, but 95 % less energy compared to the production of new aluminium. The can is a ‘perfect fit’ for the circular economy.”

Until the end of January visitors can skate, try some pirouettes or play ice hockey at “Grazer Winterwelt“ – and do something good for the environment at the same time.

The now iconic symbol of Every Can Counts, the rainbow archway, was prominently displayed in Shawlands Civic Square in partnership with Glasgow City Council. Its goal? To raise awareness about the importance of recycling and inspire even more people to place their empties in the right bin.

The eye-catching installation, placed in front of Langside Halls, consists of more than 2,500 brightly coloured recycled drink cans and measures four metres high and seven metres wide. It took four people more than five hours to construct and remained in place until early November, spreading the recycling message over the first week of the climate change conference.

Every Can Counts’ own research suggests that more than 2.8 million drink cans are bought and used each week throughout Glasgow. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and recycling just one can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours. If all of these cans were recycled, it would give greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking more than 7,200 cars off the city’s roads for a week.

Eight in 10 of those questioned say they always use recycling bins if they are available in public places, with more than seven in 10 claiming that they would recycle more while out and about if there were a greater number of recycling bins.

In fact, almost two thirds of Glaswegians say they have become more concerned about the environment and their impact on it over the last 12 months. Half believe this is due to Glasgow’s involvement in the conference.

“The rainbow is our way of reminding people about the importance of recycling cans at a time when the environment is firmly on the city’s agenda. Recycling an empty drink can is such an easy thing that each of us can do to help the planet. It might not seem like much, but every can is endlessly recyclable and making a can from recycled metal rather than raw materials uses 95% less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, a record four out of five drink cans sold in the UK were recycled, given peoples’ lifestyles changed dramatically and we spent much of the year in lockdown. We want to continue making progress now the country has opened back up and our ultimate goal is to achieve a 100% recycling rate for drink cans”, Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said.

A rainbow to unite us all under one cause

This symbol, aiming to inspire more action towards aluminium can recycling, was embraced by citizens and politicians alike. “This installation was a reminder of the importance of recycling, and the significant environmental benefits it brings. We can all play our part in reducing emissions by recycling as much as we can”, councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction at Glasgow City Council said.

“I was thrilled to see the Every Can Counts rainbow in my constituency. It acted as a key reminder of the importance of recycling more and keeping our streets tidy over the course of the landmark COP26 Summit and beyond. Shifting towards infinitely recyclable materials like aluminium and keeping these materials in circulation by recycling is something we can all do to progress towards a truly circular economy, and to meet the aims of this pivotal Summit in Glasgow”, said Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central.

An ideal backdrop for selfies and quite a spectacle for photos, the rainbow managed to get tens of people to capture it with their cameras. At the same time, visitors had the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher and a £500 donation to an environmental charity of their choice. The winner selected South Seeds, a community organisation based in South Central Glasgow that works to enable local residents to lead more sustainable lives.

But that’s not all. The #EveryCanCounts rainbow installation was also featured prominently by leading newspapers and media, such as The Times, Glasgow Times, and Glasgow World.

The partnership will see White Claw collaborate with our teams in Ireland and the UK, drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and increase recycling rates across both the UK and Ireland.

As part of the partnership, White Claw will provide funding to our programme, with both brands working together to spread the message that drink cans are infinitely recyclable.

To mark the launch of the partnership in Ireland, our team provided recycling support at White Claw’s summer pop-up brand activation in Dublin, which ran in last month. A unique recycling cage installation in the shape of a ‘recycle swoosh’ allowed members of the public to see the progress of their recycling efforts throughout the day, while a can crusher beside the installation added an interactive element for those making their empty cans count.

White Claw will also be using our programme’s recycling bins at a number of upcoming sampling activities in the UK in order to make it easier for consumers to do the right thing with their empty cans.

Made with sparkling water, triple distilled spirit and a hint of natural flavour, White Claw Hard Seltzers are stocked in major retailers across the UK and Ireland.

Michael Dean, Head of Marketing at White Claw, said: “Being one of the most popular hard seltzer brands, it’s so important to us that each and every one of our drink cans sold in the UK and Ireland are recycled. With the support of Every Can Counts, we’re confident that we can do our bit to help inspire our customers to close the loop when it comes to empty cans.”

Róisín O’Brien, Every Can Counts Ireland programme manager, said: “We’re very excited to announce our latest partnership with White Claw. It’s great to see such a globally recognised brand taking steps to help raise awareness and encourage drink can recycling. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environment and their impact on it, but there’s definitely more we can do with White Claw and the wider industry to drive positive change in the years to come.”

As a unique partnership formed between drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry, our programme’s vision is to reach a 100% recycling rate for drinks cans in Europe.

Last year saw record-highs for the UK’s recycling rates with more than four out of five drink cans sold in the country being recycled as nationwide lockdowns made it easier for people to recycle.

Ireland has one of the highest rates in Europe for aluminium drink can recycling and recovery, with 89% of cans sold in the country being recycled or recovered in 2019.

Let’s keep the cycle going!

This time our Polish team decided to create something totally new -the CANMAGEDON, a creative concept that encourages selective collection by pushing the limits, motivating, and educating people about the can recycling process.

CANMAGEDON is a race where each obstacle represents one stage from the drink can’s life cycle. Everything starts, of course, from the collection phase, by placing the can in the yellow bin. The idea of this project is to show how simple and important this act is. 

With lots of people stopping by to interact with CANMAGEDON, everyone is looking forward to the next season and to more smart initiatives to promote drink can recycling!

Check the highlights: