Indestructible, easy to collect and fully recyclable, thealuminum it can be reused indefinitely and adapts to multiple uses. This material represents the ideal partner for the production of packaging because it is light, malleable, resistant to impact and corrosion and mainly has an excellent barrier effect. This feature allows us to meet the very high quality and hygiene standards required by the food & beverage sector. Aluminum packaging, in fact, guarantees a long and safe conservation of food and drinks, to protect human health, and also contributes decisively to the prevention of the formation of organic waste and the reduction of food waste and scraps.
An extraordinary metal, a true symbol of The circular economy e sustainability: recovering it is convenient because it is a widespread material and very present in the daily life of each of us and its correct recycling allows enormous savings from the postural energetic e of environmental tourism. In fact, producing recycled aluminum from spent items requires up to 95% less energy than the process for extracting and producing primary aluminum from bauxite, the primary source for aluminum production. Added to this is a substantial reduction in polluting emissions. It is no coincidence that almost most of the objects made of aluminum in circulation are recycled.
Recovery and recycling of aluminum packaging: the role of Cial
CIAL, one of the seven national Consortiums that adhere to CONAI, the National Packaging Consortium, exists for a very specific reason: born in 1997, its objective is to seek solutions for optimizing, collecting, recovering and recycling post-consumer aluminum packaging. To do this, the non-profit consortium brings together the protagonists of the entire industrial chain: from producers of raw materials to packaging manufacturers up to end users, recovery and recyclers.
Italy full of recycling
For many years now, the Italian aluminum recycling industry has held a prominent position on the world scene for the amount of recycled material. Our country recycles on average more than 70% of aluminum packaging, well beyond the targets of 50% by 2025 and 60% by 2030 set by European legislation. This is why we place ourselves at first place in Europe.
The proposed EU Regulation: less packaging, less waste
Last November, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Regulation, known as PPWR file (Proposal Packaging and Packaging Waste), focused on reuse at the expense of recycling. Under the new regulation, EU member states must reduce packaging waste by 5% by 2030. By the end of 2025, 65% of all packaging waste should be recycled, including 50% plastic , 50% aluminum, 70% glass, and 75% paper and cardboard.
Objectives that can certainly be shared. However, the new EU regulation proposal on packaging could have "disruptive effects" on Italy and its recycling chains. This was written by the environment and production activities commissions of the Chamber, which in full compliance with the forecasts expressed a negative opinion on the measure, giving the government a mandate to ask the European Commission for a new impact assessment.
The proposal has sparked several controversies, as it would not take into account the paths already taken by individual states: in the case of Italy, not only has recycling been the basis of our national waste management system for the past 25 years, but it has so far been It is possible to reach the recycling targets on individual packaging materials years in advance imposed by the previous European regulations issued in the form of a directive.
Indeed, the very choice of having recourse to a regulation rather than a directive prevents the Member States from having a margin of discretion in the methods of implementation.
Italy is the European leader in aluminum recycling
According to the last annual meeting of Cial, in 2022 73,6% of the aluminum packaging placed on the market was recycled (i.e. 60.200 tons) and, with energy recovery, the total amount recovered is growing and approaching at 78%.
These results have made it possible to avoid greenhouse emissions equal to 423 tons of CO2 and save energy for over 185 tons of oil equivalent.
The efficiency and effectiveness of the Italian system of collection he recycling of aluminum is even more evident if we consider the cross-section of recycling rate for cans in aluminum for beverages which is equal to 91,6%, far higher than the average European recycling rate of 73%.
Cans: 100% recycling goal by 2030
Furthermore, since 2019, Italy has joined the vast European project "Every can count” (“Ogni Lattina Vale”), an initiative involving 19 countries plus Brazil, aiming to promote the collection and recycling of aluminum cans also during major cultural and sporting events. The project is part of an even more ambitious goal, shared by CIAL together with the producers and the main European aluminum packaging associations: reaching the goal 100% can recycling for drinks by 2030.
The management system for the related packaging waste is today an essential component of the Italian aluminum industry, which has allowed our country to become an excellent model of social, economic and environmental sustainability in Europe.
