Analysis by Every Can Counts of data from RetuRO, administrator of Romania's deposit-return system, shows the aluminium can recycling rate reached 80.5% in the first nine months of 2026, up from 75% a year earlier. Cans were the only packaging category to grow in volumes placed on market, up 2%, while total guaranteed packaging volumes fell 2.4% and plastic and glass both declined.
Why this mattersRising can collection and return rates support closed-loop aluminium supply for can makers such as Canpack, reinforcing cans' share gains against plastic and glass in deposit schemes.
- Aluminium can recycling rate in Romania's deposit-return system reached 80.5% in the first nine months of 2026, versus 75% in the same period of 2025
- Can return rate reached 85% in the nine months to September 2026, up from 82% a year earlier, after rising from 80.9% at end-July to 85% at end-September
- Cans placed on market rose 2% year on year in the nine months, the only packaging type to grow, while total guaranteed packaging volumes fell 2.4%
- Number of cans returned rose 6.3% year on year in the nine-month period
- Cans held a 29% share of guaranteed packaging placed on market in the third quarter, unchanged from the prior quarter and up from just over 20% in early 2024
- Every Can Counts in Romania is supported by Canpack and European Aluminium's Packaging Group
Czech mineral water brand Vincentka has launched a 250ml aluminium slim can, its first entry into canned mineral water, produced by Canpack at its Brzesko plant in Poland. The can uses Canpack's Superwhite print base and a matt varnish finish. Canpack also operates a beverage can plant in Stribro, Czech Republic, with planned annual capacity of about 950 million units.
Why this mattersThe launch shows can makers courting mineral water brands to widen aluminium's reach beyond beer and soft drinks into a still-nascent packaging category.
- Vincentka's 250ml aluminium slim can is produced at Canpack's Brzesko plant in Poland
- The can carries Canpack's Superwhite print finish and a matt varnish surface treatment
- This is Vincentka's first product in the canned mineral water segment
- Canpack has run a beverage can plant in Stribro, Czech Republic since 2020 with planned annual capacity of about 950 million units
Fitch Ratings has assigned Guala Closures S.p.A. a first-time long-term issuer default rating of B+ with a Stable Outlook. The agency points to the group's leadership in closures and EBITDA margins above 20%, but flags leverage still elevated after recent acquisitions and capacity investment. Fitch expects strong free cash flow to support gradual deleveraging.
Why this mattersA first-time credit rating gives Guala Closures a benchmark for debt pricing as it works through leverage built up from acquisitions and capacity spending.
- Fitch assigned Guala Closures S.p.A. a B+ long-term issuer default rating with a Stable Outlook
- Fitch cites Guala's global leadership in closures and EBITDA margins above 20%
- Fitch says leverage remains high after recent acquisitions and capacity investments
- Fitch expects strong free cash flow to drive gradual deleveraging
- Fitch assigned an expected B(EXP) rating with RR4 recovery on Guala's planned senior secured debt on 22 September 2026, ahead of a refinancing
- Fitch-defined EBITDA leverage estimated at 5.8x at end-2026, expected to fall below 5.5x during 2028
- Estimated senior debt claims of EUR 1,195m, comprising EUR 1,000m senior secured notes and a EUR 175m super senior secured revolving credit facility
- Guala's 2025 EBITDA margin of 19 percent is cited by Fitch as above peers CANPACK (11 percent) and Ardagh Metal Packaging (11 percent)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree, published on 21 September 2026, placing the whole of Aptar Vladimir, a plastic packaging plant held through Aptar Europe Holding, under temporary external administration. The appointed manager is H&N, the entity behind Danone's former Russian business, itself nationalised by decree in 2023. AptarGroup said the unit accounted for under 0.6% of consolidated net sales and operating income at 31 December 2025 and that it is assessing options to protect its shareholder rights.
Why this mattersThe decree extends Russia's seizure of Western-owned assets to a US packaging group, raising expropriation risk for remaining Western manufacturers in the country.
- The decree, published on 21 September 2026, places 100% of Aptar Vladimir under temporary external administration.
- Aptar Vladimir is held by Aptar Europe Holding, part of US-headquartered AptarGroup, and runs the group's only plant in Russia, at Vladimir, making caps, closures and dispensers.
- The appointed manager is H&N, the legal entity behind Danone's Russian division, nationalised under a separate decree in 2023.
- AptarGroup said Aptar Vladimir represented under 0.6% of consolidated net sales and operating income as of 31 December 2025.
- AptarGroup said it is assessing the situation and its options and flagged possible operational, legal, accounting or sanction impacts and possible impairment.
- On 17 September 2026 Putin signed a law placing the Russian assets of Auchan, Nestle, Lemana PRO and FM Logistic under temporary management by L.E.V. Management.
