51 million drinks cans recycled in 2011 with Every Can Counts

Every Can Counts, the out of the home drinks can recycling programme co-funded by BCME, has announced its 2011 results. 51 million cans were collected from participating workplaces and ‘on the go’ locations in the UK over the past year. This equates to 774 tonnes of aluminium and steel saved from landfill and around 5,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions avoided as a result of the programme. The figure is equivalent to each employee from registered organisations recycling  five cans per month, an increase of 25% year on year.

The programme has come a long way in the three years since its launch. Originally developed as a trial programme to test the barriers and drivers to successful recycling outside the home, Every Can Counts has now established a model to help organisations that are working towards sustainability objectives, such as zero waste to landfill. The programme was cited as an example of best practice in the Government Review of Waste Policy in England 2011.

With a name and brand identity that works well in any language, the Every Can Counts programme has also now been successfully replicated in France, Austria, Romania and Hungary, with more European markets looking to follow suit.

To find out how to get involved with the programme visit www.everycancounts.co.uk. You can also follow Every Can Counts on Facebook and Twitter.

¹ Figures have been calculated using data provided by a representative sample of Every Can Counts programme users and calculated using methodology approved by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Can production shines through economic gloom

Despite a challenging economic climate across Europe in 2011, figures were encouraging for the beverage can. Full year results show an increase of can shipments of up to 5% across Europe, outperforming the overall beer and soft drinks market growth, forecast at just 2% by beverage research agency Canadean.

Canned soft drinks performed particularly well, with a 7% jump on last year’s overall figures. In the Netherlands, figures showed growth of up to 20%, while in Europe’s biggest soft drinks can market, the UK, growth was up by 5.6%, with 273 million additional units shipped compared with 2010. Within the carbonated soft drinks category, energy drinks have had a big impact, with buoyant unit rises in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and Hungary. Though the success of energy drinks is an important driver, progress is also being driven by both consumers and producers alike.

The canned beer and cider market showed growth, overall, with a rise of between 3% and 4% in 2011 across Europe. West Europe saw an increase in beer cans shipped of 2%, but East Europe empty can shipments had an impressive rise of 7%, amplifying the overall results. In the UK, there was a slight drop in demand due, in part, to the lack of stimulus from sporting events, such as the World Cup, and the effects of the economic situation on overall beer and cider sales. However, despite this, according to Nielsen, retail sales of lager in cans have still performed better than other pack formats in the category, with the 12 multipack format seeing strong sales. Nielsen retail audits also showed that there was growth in the UK for retail sales of single cans and cans smaller than 44cl, with increases of 6% and 13%, respectively.

The beverage can market results for 2011 are strong and show that the can is still a preferred pack of choice for consumers and retailers.

 

Can Film Festival Gets Students Recycling Can Film Festival Gets Students Recycling

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2012 is off to a strong start for Every Can Counts. The out-of-home recycling programme kicked off its student outreach to UK universities during Go Green Week (6^th-11^th February) with the Can Film Festival. Aimed at boosting campus recycling, the initiative offers students, lecturers and staff free film screenings in exchange for their empty drinks cans.

 Now in its third successful year, the Can Film Festival, open throughout the academic year, aims to raise awareness of the recyclability of drinks cans and encourage more students and young people to do the right thing with their empties.  Participating campuses have access to Every Can Counts recycling containers, posters and promotional materials to help encourage both staff and students to swap their empty cans for entry.

While Every Can Counts reaches out to business and consumers alike, the Can Film Festival encourages long term behavioural change by making recycling rewarding, easy and fun at universities. Forty universities requested packs ahead of this year’s start during Go Green Week to run their own Can Film Festivals, including King’s College, London, University of Birmingham and Newcastle University, with more to come in the academic year.

For more information visit www.everycancounts.co.uk/about. You can also follow Every Can Counts on Facebook and Twitter.