French can industry urges government to revive deposit return scheme talks

The French can industry cooperative GIE La Boîte Boisson has asked the government to resume talks on a deposit return scheme after Paris shelved plans for a mandatory nationwide system, urging that aluminium cans be included. France's can recycling rate lags at around 50%, well below the 90% collection rates achieved in EU states with deposit schemes already in place, while cans grew 5.8% year-on-year in 2025 to nearly 4.8 billion units.

Why this mattersA stalled French deposit scheme leaves the country's can collection well below EU peers, delaying recycled-content gains that can producers rely on for cost and carbon targets.

• French government has stepped back from plans for a mandatory nationwide deposit return scheme
• GIE La Boîte Boisson is calling for talks to resume with aluminium cans included in future plans
• French can consumption rose 5.8% year-on-year in 2025 to nearly 4.8 billion units, about 70 cans per resident
• Aluminium can recycling rate across Europe stands at 76.3%, per a Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium study
• France's overall can recycling rate is around 50%, with only 26% collected via home recycling bins
• Industry group targets 100% recycled aluminium content, cutting emissions to about 7g CO2e per 330ml can by 2050

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