Beverage Carton Recycling Continues to Grow

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), based in Brussels, has reported that some 350,000 metric tons were recycled in 2008, or more than 13 billion total cartons. The organization says that this figure represents a 33 percent recycling rate in Europe. Combined recycling and recovery reached roughly 675,000 metric tons for a 65-percent recovery rate, ACE says.

These figures reflect a long-term growth trend in beverage carton recycling since 1992 and a continuous improvement in 2008 despite difficult market conditions. According to ACE, recycled beverage cartons are used to produce packaging for consumer goods and the recycling process extends the life of wood fibers contained in the beverage carton to optimize that renewable resource. Additionally, ACE adds that beverage carton recycling helps to alleviate the impact of climate change by reducing green house gas emissions.

“This is one of our practical responses to tackling climate change”, says Erika Mink, president of ACE.

“Our industry is dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact of beverage cartons through their life-cycle from cradle to grave,” says Christian Verschueren, ACE’s director general. “End-of-use management is part of the sustainable performance of our packaging. That is why we are committed to increasing recycling levels of beverage cartons”.

ACE is working with local authorities and non-governmental organizations in the European Union to promote public awareness of recycling and the setting up of collection schemes, which should further improve beverage carton recycling.