Beverage packaging has an essential role. It keeps products safe, transportable and safeguards their quality. It also offers clear information to consumers and is a resource that should never be wasted. If properly designed and collected, it can be recycled or reused multiple times.
The European soft drinks sector uses various types of packaging materials, including plastic (PET), aluminium, glass and carton.
SOFT DRINKS BY PACK MATERIAL IN THE EU (2020-2025)
Swipe to see the full table
Soft drinks | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Board | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 8% | |
Glass | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | |
• Refillable | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
• Nonrefillable | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | |
Metal | 19% | 21% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 23% | |
Paper | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |
PET | 69% | 66% | 65% | 64% | 63% | 62% | |
• Refillable | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
• Nonrefillable | 64% | 63% | 62% | 61% | 60% | 59% | |
Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Source: ©2026. Market data copyright held by GlobalData PLC and reproduced under license.
PET (plastic) bottles
Beverage plastic bottles, known as PET (polyethyleneterephthalate) containers, are a popular packaging format. They are re-sealable – and so ideal for people on the move who need to stay hydrated, and they are transparent – enabling consumers to see the drink that they are buying.
PET containers are 100% recyclable and the average single-use bottle has reduced in weight by some 50% over the past 10 years.
Our company members also committed to incorporate at least 50% of recycled PET in their single-use PET bottles by 2025 and 100% recycled or renewable PET by 2030. PET containers, when specifically designed for it, can also be reused several times.
For more information on PET bottles, please visit the PETCORE Europe website.
ALUMINIUM CANS
In Europe, aluminium is predominantly used as a material for beverage cans (sometimes steel is used). Cans have undergone considerable lightweight programmes in recent years. The first beverage can over 60 years ago weigh more than 80 grams. Today, a 330 ml aluminium can weigh less than 13 grams. Lighter cans also mean that many more can be transported on one truck, making for less energy use and reduced emissions.
71% or more of all aluminium cans put on the market are recycled globally. In the EU28, aluminium beverage can recycling in 2020 remains high at 73% despite the impact of the new EU recycling reporting rules. Aluminium beverage can recycling achieved a record level of 510,000 tonnes, saving 4,2 million tonnes CO2eq. The recycling and use of recycled content in cans save up to 95% of the energy used for the production of virgin materials.
For more information on beverage cans, head to the Metal Packaging Europe website.
Glass bottles
Glass bottles are sometimes used to package non-alcoholic beverages, especially those sold in cafes, bars and restaurants. There are two types of bottles – those for single use, which are lighter in weight, and those which are reused and refilled, and so are heavier and more robust as a result.
Glass bottles constituted 5% of all soft drinks’ packaging manufactured in 2022. These bottles are 100% recyclable and can be recycled infinitely in a closed product loop without losing its intrinsic properties. Currently, the EU average collection for recycling of glass packaging is 82.2% (2024 data). Glass bottles can contain up to 100% recycled content.
More information on glass bottles is available on the European Container Glass Federation and the Close The Glass Loop websites.
beverage Cartons
Beverage cartons made up 7% of the packaging used in soft drinks in 2022.
Recycling of beverage cartons in the EU has grown steadily in recent years. In 2019 on average, 51%*of all beverage cartons in the EU were recycled – with rates in some countries like Belgium and Germany of over 70%.
Beverage cartons are made out of paper and have an aluminium lining. They are used to package both single serve and multi-serve drinks.
More information on beverage cartons can be obtained from the Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA).
Pouches
Beverage pouches are typically made from flexible materials such as plastic films and aluminium foil, which provide stability while preserving the freshness of the drinks.
They are also lightweight and durable.
Pouches are available in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different types of beverages and consumer preferences.