ACE — the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment — reports that recycling of beverage cartons reached 40% in the EU (European Union) in 2012. This represents an increase of 3% compared to 2011 data. The total recovery rate (recycling and energy recovery) reached 69% in the EU.
An increase in recycling rates was also recorded across Europe (EU-27, Norway and Switzerland) with 39% of beverage cartons being recycled and total recovery reaching 70% in 2012.
"After 20 years of tracking recycling rates in Europe, our industry is very happy with the progress made. In 1992 only 6,000 tonnes of post-consumer beverage cartons were recycled, in 2012 this number has increased to about 380,000 tons," said Katarina Molin, Director General of ACE.
"Recycling is definitely our favoured waste management option. Increasing beverage carton recycling across Europe is fully in line with the Commission's vision to move towards a recycling economy as laid down in the EU Roadmap for a Resource Efficient Europe," Molin added.
Beverage cartons are made on average from 75% paperboard, 21% polymers and 4% aluminium. The paper fibres from post-consumer beverage cartons are high quality and as such play a crucial role in ensuring that recycled paper maintains its properties and can be used to produce new packaging for consumer goods.
