Building a CIRCULAR Economy
What is a Circular Economy?
A circular economy is a broad-based concept about the transition from a linear economy in which products are made and disposed of to circular systems that recover and transform materials into new products and packaging. Closed-loop recycling—in particular, bottle-to-bottle recycling within the context of beverage containers—is a key component of a circular economy.
The reintegration of recycled PET back into our economy supports the broader development of a circular economy framework. It also ensures this valuable material is kept within Canada and continues to provide economic benefits. Recovering all used beverage containers is a major priority for our sector.
Plastic is highly valuable
PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) is a highly recyclable plastic that makes up the majority of beverage containers. Recycled PET is used to make new products and packaging, which reduces the need for raw materials, lowers greenhouse gas emissions and supports jobs and growth in the circular economy.
Currently, there is not enough recovered PET to meet market demand and recycled content targets. More recycled PET in the system will fuel the circular economy.
Did You Know?
PET is commonly used to package carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices and bottled water because it is lightweight but strong, durable, and recyclable.
Aluminum: Indefinitely Recyclable
Aluminum beverage cans are made to be remade and can be recycled over and over again. When an aluminum can is recycled, it can return to store shelves in as little as 60 days.
The aluminum can is one of the most recycled consumer product packages on the market today, which saves energy and reduces our carbon footprint. When recycled, it reduces the energy required to produce new aluminum by as much as 95%.
In North America the average aluminum can contains as much as 70% recycled content, requiring a mere 8% of the energy compared to manufacturing a can with virgin aluminum.
Did You Know?
The sector is the largest consumer of aluminum cans in Canada, using 22 per cent of the country’s entire domestic aluminum container supply.
Recycling generates good green jobs for Canadians
Recycling programs generate jobs across the entire recovery chain, including collection, transportation, sorting, and processing.
As the circular economy continues to gain momentum, the non-alcoholic beverage sector is positioned as a critical enabler of green job creation—through funding, stewardship, and compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that drive job creation and environmental performance.
The economic benefits to Canada through beverage container recycling programs depend on the flow and destination of collected and recycled materials.
Did You Know?
Alberta’s deposit return system creates an estimated 17 full-time equivalent jobs for every 1,000 tonnes of beverage containers recovered.