Increasing recovery and recycled content

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Packaging accounts for the largest percentage of a beverage product’s carbon footprint--between 30% and 70%, depending on the material type used, whether aluminum, glass, or PET. In addition, approximately 6% of all packaging waste by weight in municipal waste streams is attributed to beverage containers. Recognizing that beverage container recycling has a direct impact on environmental sustainability and climate change, BIER is working to increase the recyclability of product packaging and increase container recovery rates.

 

In the absence of regulatory post-consumer recycling mandates and extended producer responsibility laws in most of the world, with Europe being the exception, BIER members are looking to take a leading role in advancing beverage container recycling efforts through strategic partnerships, consumer education and initiatives to grow the market for post-consumer materials. To date, many BIER members have publicly declared beverage container recovery goals, a step in the right direction towards transparency and accountability.