Recycling rates are continually growing
Recycling of beverage cartons in Europe (EU-27, Norway and Switzerland) has grown steadily over the last fifteen years (see graph), with around 350,000 tonnes (over 13 billion cartons) recycled in 2010. This represents a rate of 36% of all cartons sold in Europe being recycled, with some countries like Belgium or Germany having rates twice this average or more.
Combined recycling and energy recovery, rates for the whole region reached roughly 650,000 tonnes (a 66% recovery rate). These figures reflect a clear long-term growth trend in beverage carton recycling since 1992, when only 6,000 tonnes were recycled.
Recycling plays its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated at landfills. Besides avoiding the waste of valuable paper resources, the 350,000 tonnes of beverage cartons recycled in 2010 amount to a prevention of emissions of around 310,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
Though not subject to specific legal targets neither in the EU nor in most Member States, the beverage carton industry has achieved this at the manufacturers’ own initiative and working with stakeholders.
Decoupling economic growth from environmental impact
Signs of the decoupling of economic growth from environmental impact are also seen. Increases in beverage carton recycling have been, on average, 6% a year since 1999, outstripping market growth (over 1% a year - in tonnage).