In 2024, the Deposit Return System (DRS) in Sweden achieved the collection of more than 2.8 billion PET bottles and aluminum cans, a 6% increase compared to the previous year. According to Returpack/Pantamera, responsible for the program, each inhabitant recycled an average of 271 containers.
This system ensures that collected containers are transformed into new ones of the same type, avoiding degradation and promoting closed-loop recycling. Thus, it reduces the need for virgin raw materials and significantly decreases carbon emissions. In 2024, the system prevented more than 180,000 metric tons of CO₂, equivalent to the annual emissions of a medium-sized Swedish city.
Sara Bergendorff, Sustainability Director at Returpack/Pantamera, states that the success of the Swedish model lies in reusing PET and aluminum for the same purpose. Unlike other methods, here the materials do not lose quality, remaining within a circular cycle.
The return rate in 2024 was 87.6%, close to the 90% target. With the increase in deposit scheduled for January 2025, greater citizen participation is expected.
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