UK's aluminium packaging industry at risk without improved recycling infrastructure, warns Alupro

Alupro, the aluminium-packaging industry body, has issued a rallying call to Members of Parliament, urging them to throw their weight behind a deposit return scheme and bolster investment in recycling infrastructure. The organisation recently hosted an event at the House of Commons, sponsored by UK’s Labour MP Rupa Huq and featuring a keynote speech by Conservative MP Bob Blackman.

Image Source: Alupro

During the event, the enterprise encouraged policymakers to sign a three-point pledge outlining a roadmap for achieving a circular economy.

The pledge centres on three key objectives: implementing a world-class Deposit Return Scheme by 2027, promoting sustainable packaging through an extended producer responsibility system that incentivises the use of recyclable materials, and boosting domestic recycling facilities through targeted investment.

According to Alupro’s Executive Director Tom Giddings, "While aluminium packaging recycling rates have continued to increase in 2024, maintaining positive policy progress is critical to further increasing collection volumes and material quality, as well as helping the sector accelerate progress towards an economy that truly unleashes the circular-economy power of aluminium." Giddings' comments as the federal government reaffirms its commitment to introducing a deposit return scheme, despite Wales' decision to withdraw from the initiative.

However, not everyone is convinced of the scheme's merits. The Recycling Association has called for the Government to abandon the deposit return scheme, citing concerns over its necessity and potential effectiveness. As the debate continues, Alupro remains steadfast in its advocacy for a well-designed deposit return scheme, one that prioritises sustainability, recyclability, and the long-term health of the aluminium packaging industry.

Recent polling data suggests that the nation’s public is increasingly supportive of intensified recycling initiatives. A survey conducted by a leading research firm found that a significant majority of respondents (over 75 per cent) believe that the UK should prioritise recycling and waste reduction in 2025. Furthermore, the poll revealed that nearly 70 per cent of participants are willing to pay a small premium for products packaged in recyclable materials. These findings underscore the growing importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility in the eyes of the country’s consumers.

As Alupro and other industry stakeholders continue to push for policy reforms and increased investment in recycling infrastructure, it remains to be seen how the UK Government will respond to these calls to action. 

One thing is clear, however, the United Kingdom's recycling landscape is poised for significant change in the years to come, and aluminium packaging will play a critical role in shaping the country's waste management strategy.