There is good news on the sustainability front in European packaging, and we are delighted to share it with you: on 1 January 2026, a supply chain initiative promoted by EAFA (European Aluminium Foil Association) and FPE (Flexible Packaging Europe) officially launched with the aim of significantly improving the recycling performance of small aluminium formats. The initiative also has positive implications for aluminium tubes, which can be recycled even if they are very small (think of ophthalmic ointments and other pharmaceutical products) and completely squeezed, thus with a significantly reduced volume.
The initiative is based on a principle that is as simple as it is important: the recyclability of a material does not always correspond to an infrastructure capable of actually recycling it. It seems like a contradiction in terms, but it is, in fact, one of the critical issues that have been raised following the arrival of the PPWR. Germany, in particular, has led the way by introducing new criteria on packaging recyclability, which came into force on 1 January 2026: a system for assessing the recyclability of materials based on the actual capacity of the recycling infrastructure currently in place in Germany has been introduced.
In other words, companies will no longer be able to claim that packaging is 100% recyclable if there are not currently enough recycling facilities in Germany to actually recycle all that material. This decision has not failed to raise concerns: while it is necessary to be realistic, one wonders whether it is fair to place responsibility on producers that does not directly affect them. Building recycling facilities is an institutional responsibility, not a corporate one. But if the intended effect was to give the supply chain a ‘shake-up’, with repercussions throughout the EU, then the objective has been achieved. Not least because the calendar does not lie: the PPWR will become fully applicable and binding from 12 August 2026. And time is running out fast.
The European initiative: what is changing (and why it may also affect aluminium tubes)
The new European initiative dedicated to small-format aluminium packaging should be read within this context, highlighting the fundamental challenge: to make the capacity of plants to intercept, sort and send even the smallest formats for recycling more uniform and effective throughout Europe, as in some areas or outdated plants they still end up ‘out of stream’. How? By addressing the obstacles that hinder the waste management chain and supporting practical actions to overcome them: research, implementation of innovative solutions, alignment along the value chain, sharing of best practices.
The fact that companies and supply chain players are moving in a coordinated manner alongside institutions is a strong signal: the direction is not just ‘recyclable material’, but recycling that really works, everywhere and in a measurable way.
Aluminium: always recoverable. But we need a supply chain capable of exploiting its value
Aluminium is always 100% recyclable and infinitely recyclable, even when it is in very small formats (think, for example, of the very thin wrappers of chocolates). The same applies to tubes: even when they are completely squeezed or very compact, the material retains its recovery potential intact. However, in order for that potential to become actual recycling, there must be recycling plants with technologies and processes capable of effectively intercepting and separating even the smallest pieces of aluminium. It is worth remembering that the technologies capable of doing this already exist and have been in use for some time in many state-of-the-art plants in the European Union. But not in all of them.
In other words, in terms of sustainability, what happens after use is as important as the choice of material. And it is time for the supply chain to take note.
Italy is at the forefront in this regard, not only because it has advanced plants where aluminium is pre-treated, melted down and given a new ‘life’, but also because there are players capable of following the ‘journey’ of aluminium recovery throughout the supply chain (first and foremost, the CIAL Consortium). a commitment that is expressed both in post-consumer recovery and in industrial waste. Thanks to this winning combination, Italy is the European country with the highest aluminium recycling rate in the EU and one of the highest in the world, well above the targets set by regulations: for aluminium packaging, in fact, the PPWR sets an ambitious target of 60% by 2030, but Italy has already far exceeded this target in 2024, with a rate exceeding 68% (but standing at over 86% for cans).
The European initiative was created precisely to reduce this ‘gap’ along the collection → sorting → recycling chain, because in some areas, some small formats are still incinerated or only partially recovered. A concrete commitment to ensure that the supply chain is able to exploit its qualities more and more.
The PPWR effect as an accelerator of innovation
The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has shifted the industry’s focus towards a more concrete and verifiable approach: not just ‘recyclable’ as a principle, but recyclable effectively and on a large scale, with criteria and responsibilities that are becoming progressively more stringent.
As already mentioned, the PPWR (EU Reg. 2025/40) will be mandatory throughout the EU from 12 August 2026. The legislator had in fact allowed a period of adaptation from its entry into force on 11 February to enable companies to implement the necessary changes to comply. And the date is approaching.
Design for Recycling for tubes: choices that make a difference
Brands that choose aluminium tubes for their products have already made an important sustainability choice. While the aluminium packaging supply chain is taking the necessary steps to enhance its processes, product companies can also make a further contribution to sustainability with a few precautions that can make a difference on a large scale. Even if they work with small formats.
1) Look at the tube as a ‘system’
There is more: the aluminium body is not the only thing that matters. The cap, any seals and tamper-proofing solutions, labels, etc. are also important. Consider the sustainability of these components too.
2) Choose anti-tampering solutions that combine sustainability and safety: such as our new seal for ophthalmic tubes, now made of PET (highly recyclable compared to the previous PVC).
3) Communicate the value of aluminium as a circular material to consumers
In the debate on sustainability, it is not only what is recyclable that counts, but also what is perceived as sustainable. Remembering this is also a way to further enhance the value of your product.
4) Sustainability goes beyond materials: other elements also come into play, such as the responsible use of energy resources and water used in production processes. The Perfektüp group has put sustainability at the forefront of its production processes, as demonstrated by the innovative Kırklareli plant designed with the “sustainable first” criterion. The operational approach is what counts: lean development and production management allows us to work on time, on budget and on quantity, maintaining responsiveness and stability even when there are changes (graphics, batches, specifications, market priorities), minimising waste.
5) Be open to recycled materials! If you are also considering recycled aluminium tubes (where applicable), it may be useful to clarify the difference between PCR (post-consumer) and PIR (post-industrial) aluminium and the related constraints/rules. We firmly believe in recycled materials: at Tubettificio Perfektüp, we have been working for years with the CIAL Consortium to recover and recycle production waste. As we mainly supply pharmaceutical companies, we generally work with aluminium from raw materials, but we are also perfectly capable of working with aluminium from recycled sources, which can provide excellent results in all those sectors which, unlike the pharmaceutical industry, do not have regulatory constraints on the use of recycled materials.
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Between redesign, testing, sampling and internal approvals, getting ready for August 2026 cannot be improvised: it is advisable to set up a Design for Recycling assessment as soon as possible. And if you are looking for a partner for your packaging projects who can help you comply with the new regulations, please contact us: we will be happy to work with you to find the perfect solution for your products.
