Beverage Container Recycling

Increasing recovery and recycled content

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 beverage packaging, increase container recovery rates, and increase usage of sustainable packaging.

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.

Packaging accounts for the largest percentage of a beverage product’s carbon footprint.

Learn more about how BIER’s workstreams, such as sustainable packaging, support the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. Formed in 2006, BIER is a common voice across the beverage sector, speaking to influence global standards on environmental sustainability aspects most relevant to the sector, affect change both up and down the supply chain and share best practices that raise the bar for environmental performance of the industry. By doing so, BIER is able to monitor data and trends, engage with key stakeholders, develop best practices, and guide a course of action for the future.

Copyright © 2024, BIER. All rights reserved. Best in Market