Paris (AFP)

Industrial manufacturers of beverage cans are targeting 20% ​​growth in France over the next 5 years, mainly through a transfer from plastic bottles to cans and also thanks to the arrival of new products.

France currently consumes 4.8 billion cans per year, and "within 5 years, we can increase by a billion", estimated Sylvain Jungfer, general delegate of the Boisson Box group, Tuesday at a press conference.

This growth would come mainly from a transfer of market share of plastic bottles, which could translate into 700 million additional cans.

Can manufacturers believe they have "a place to take" with the application of the anti-waste law for a circular economy (Agec law).

The Boisson Box group stresses that this law provides for the stopping of the marketing of single-use plastic packaging by 2040, and from January 1, 2021 the ban on the free distribution of plastic bottles in establishments receiving public and professional premises.

The other factors expected to grow the can market are the appearance of new drinks (alcoholic sparkling water, coffee, wine) for 80 million units and the developing sectors (craft beers, flavored water) for 230 million. units.

This growth would correspond to a doubling of the current rate which is from 1.5% to 2% in France.

The General Delegate indicated that in 2020, sales of cans were growing in France: + 3.6% in volume and + 4.5% in value over the first 9 months in store sales (nearly 80% of total sales).

"Out-of-home catering has suffered a lot" in the context of Covid-19, but "the beverage box has been relatively spared", he observed.

"Our packaging has done very well in the economic and health issues" of 2020, summarized Mr. Jungfer.

Business was notably driven by double-digit growth in energy drinks.

The trend was the same elsewhere: the American market is expected to break a record at more than 105 billion cans manufactured in 2020 (+ 4.4%), while in Europe, with growth of around 1.5 % in recent years, production is expected to reach 70 billion units, according to Boisson Box.

80% of the cans sold in France are made in French production sites, which employ 1,000 people.

In 2020, 60% of cans are made of aluminum and 40% of steel, but the professional group predicts that the share of aluminum will increase.

© 2020 AFP