In 2024, Sweden’s deposit return system (DRS) saw an impressive return of over 2.8 billion PET bottles and aluminum cans, which is nearly a 6 percent increase from the previous year. Recent figures from Returpack/Pantamera, the organization behind the national DRS, show that this translates to an average of 271 recycled containers for every person in the country.
The Swedish DRS is designed to ensure that the collected PET bottles and aluminum cans are recycled into new containers instead of being downcycled into lower-quality products. This closed-loop system not only cuts down on the need for new materials but also significantly reduces carbon emissions. In fact, in 2024 alone, the deposit system helped prevent the release of over 180,000 metric tonnes of CO₂—an amount comparable to the yearly emissions of a medium-sized city in Sweden.
“In the deposit system, PET bottles and aluminum cans stay within a closed recycling loop, which is crucial for achieving genuine circularity,” explained Sara Bergendorff, Head of Sustainability and Quality at Returpack/Pantamera. “Unlike traditional recycling, where materials often lose quality and are turned into different products, our deposit system allows valuable materials to be reused for their original purpose, transforming back into new bottles and cans time and again.”
Aiming for a 90% Return Rate
With four decades of teamwork among beverage producers, retailers, and consumers, Sweden’s DRS has become a global benchmark for effective recycling infrastructure and waste reduction. Its impressive return rates and strict quality controls have set a standard for other nations looking to improve their recycling efforts.
In 2024, the national deposit return rate reached 87.6 percent, just shy of the ambitious 90 percent goal. A planned deposit increase set for January 2025 aims to further enhance return rates and emphasize the importance of recycling every bottle and can.
“Many people call bottle and can recycling Sweden’s smallest climate action—because it’s something everyone can do to help the environment just by returning their containers instead of throwing them away or putting them in regular recycling,” said Sara Bergendorff.
For more information, feel free to reach out to:
Sara Bergendorff Head of Sustainability and Quality, Returpack/Pantamera
Phone: +46 705 08 57 17
Email: sara.bergendorff@returpack.se
Katarina Lundell Chief Marketing Officer, Returpack/Pantamera
Phone: +46 705 64 53 75
Email: katarina.lundell@returpack.se
Sara Barthelson Riismark Communication Manager, Returpack/Pantamera
Phone: +46 706 66 56 59
Email: sara.riismark@returpack.se
