Aluminum Foil Recycling in Europe Increases

The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) is reporting that recent statistics show that there is an upward trend in the recycling of aluminum foil from trays and semi-rigid containers.

A recent EAFA report notes that the recycling rate for aluminum foil reached 45 percent in 2008, compared to 40 percent the prior year. The association attributes the increase to an increased understanding of the benefits in providing more sustainable packaging options.

In announcing the 2008 recycling rate, Felix Steinbrecher, EAFA’s Container Group chairman, says: “By promoting and sharing best practice, the alufoil industry is helping customers to reduce the environmental footprint of their products. Recently, container manufacturers of EAFA supported recycling initiatives in France and U.K., in close cooperation with the national aluminum packaging recycling organizations. The objective is to increase the recycling rates and in so doing making Europe a more sustainable community.”

To solidify this work in the recycling industry, the EAFA has joined the Organisation of European Aluminium Refiners and Remelters (OEA).

“Importantly the latest recycling figures, plus the strides made in producing lighter materials, are compatible with the proposed European Commission’s 2020 ‘Raw Materials Initiative' in which resource saving has been identified as one of the key priorities,” Steinbrecher adds.