MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CAN MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE PLEDGE TO ACHIEVE 70% RECYCLING RATE BY 2030

Beverage can manufacturer the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and aluminum can sheet producer members have committed to achieving ambitious recycling rate targets in the U.S., specifically a 70 percent recycling rate by 2030. According to the body, these targets will improve the circularity of the aluminium beverage can by demonstrating to both beverage companies and consumers the industry’s dedication to ensuring that the aluminium beverage can remains the most sustainable package on the market.

The aluminium beverage can is in a position of strength. The recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans was 45 percent in 2020, and the industry is confident of achieving even higher recycling rates up to 90 percent by 2050.

Increasing the recycled content of the average can reduces its carbon footprint, as making an aluminum beverage can from recycled material generates more than 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than making the container from primary material.

In addition, the can industry has invested billions of dollars to get cans recycled in the United States at scale with existing infrastructure. Nearly 90,000 aluminum beverage cans are recycled every minute in the United States, and 93 percent go from the recycling bin to store shelves as a new can in as little as 60 days. This high level of can-to-can recycling has resulted in the aluminum beverage can having an industry-leading average recycled content of 73 percent.

“CMI’s aluminum beverage can recycling goals are inspired by our members’ commitment to sustainable and responsible world-class circular manufacturing processes,” says CMI President Robert Budway.

If the can industry’s new recycling rate goals are achieved, the U.S. recycling system will be able to meet the new targets. You will also benefit, as aluminum beverage cans are one of the most valuable products in the recycling stream. Aluminum beverage cans are only 3 percent by weight of all recyclables in U.S. single-family homes, but they account for nearly half of the revenue from those recyclables.

In fact, a recent study concluded that without UBC revenues, most material recovery facilities that sort single-stream recyclables would not be able to operate their current business models. Ultimately, collecting more cans means a financially strengthened U.S. recycling system.