Clearing of 17 hectares of pine forest has begun in Baruth/Mark, south of Berlin, to make way for a new can plant for Red Bull. The machines are at work despite protests from environmental campaigners.
Why this mattersOpposition to forest clearing for a can plant near Berlin shows the local resistance new beverage packaging capacity in Germany can meet.
- Forest clearing has begun in Baruth/Mark, south of Berlin
- 17 hectares of pine forest are affected
- The site is for a new can plant for Red Bull
- Environmental campaigners have protested against the clearing
Speira has commissioned a new furnace for beverage can scrap at its Rheinwerk site in Neuss, Germany, with annual capacity of about 60,000 tonnes. The company invested roughly EUR 40m (USD 44.6m) in the furnace and related upgrades, including adapting a casting line and adding 6,500 tonnes of scrap storage. Red Bull, which sources recycled aluminium from Speira for its cans, attended the opening.
Why this mattersAdds European scrap-processing capacity for can stock at a time when beverage brands are pushing for more recycled aluminium content.
- Speira invested about EUR 40m (USD 44.6m) in the Rheinwerk site upgrade
- New furnace has annual capacity of about 60,000 tonnes of can scrap
- Third of four casting lines adapted for recycled-alloy processing
- New scrap storage area of 6,500 tonnes built in former primary smelter halls
- Furnace is designed to allow future hydrogen operation if a hydrogen network connection becomes available
- Red Bull uses recycled aluminium from Speira for its energy drink cans
Aluminium producer Speira has inaugurated a beverage-can recycling furnace at its Rheinwerk site in Neuss, Germany, adding around 60,000 tonnes of annual recycling capacity. The EUR 40m investment also covers the upgrade of a third casting line for recycled alloys and storage for 6,500 tonnes of can scrap in the halls of the former primary smelter. Red Bull, whose energy drinks use cans made from Speira's recycled aluminium, attended the opening.
Why this mattersMore recycled aluminium supply in Europe reduces can makers' reliance on energy-intensive primary metal and import-dependent raw material flows.
- Speira invested around EUR 40m in the new furnace and related upgrades at Rheinwerk in Neuss, Germany.
- The furnace adds approximately 60,000 tonnes of annual recycling capacity for beverage cans.
- Storage space for 6,500 tonnes of can scrap was added in former aluminium smelter halls.
- The furnace is built 'h2 ready' for future connection to the hydrogen grid.
- Red Bull, which uses cans made from Speira's recycled aluminium, attended the opening ceremony.
- Recycling aluminium uses around 95% less energy than primary production, according to Speira.
Red Bull and Rauch can proceed with their planned can plant at Baruth/Mark in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, following a decision on a new local development plan (Bebauungsplan). A court ruling had previously halted construction of the factory. Construction timing and plant capacity have not been reported.
Why this mattersA brand owner building its own can plant adds German beverage-can capacity that would otherwise sit with dedicated can makers.
- The planned can plant is at Baruth/Mark in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, Germany.
- A court decision had previously halted construction of the can factory.
- A decision on a new local development plan (Bebauungsplan) has now been taken, allowing the project to proceed.
- The plant is a joint project of beverage makers Red Bull and Rauch.
