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Recent figures showing a dramatic rise of 3.7 in cans filled last year compared with 2011 were compiled by the BCME which funds a number of recycling schemes.
The company’s marketing committee chairman Welf Jung said: “The increase in can fillings in Europe is further confirmation of the resilience and strength of the can. Cans are already a very popular packaging choice for beer, soft drinks and energy drinks owing to their ease of filling, cubic efficiency, convenience, and endless recyclability.
“The continual improvement in recycling rates across Europe is further confirmation that consumers are responding positively to industry programmes, such as ‘Every Can Counts’ created by BCME, which promote a recycling culture.”
The increase, which saw more than 59 billion cans for soft drinks and beer produced in 2012, came despite a fall in beer consumption and flat consumption for soft drinks.
According to the figures, the increase was driven by strong performances in Eastern Europe where can fillings grew 5.7%, with Hungary, for example, increasing sales by nearly 28% driven by strong domestic growth in soft drinks. In Western Europe growth was 3.2%, well above GDP growth in the region.
Conor McGlone
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