Press releases
More than half* of Belgians consciously choose beverage cartons
2 out of 3 consumers want more information about the recycling process
Belgian consumers have a notably positive attitude towards beverage cartons. This is the main conclusion of a consumer survey commissioned by ACE Belgium, the organization representing leading beverage carton manufacturers. Consumers also indicate that they usually sort their beverage cartons correctly, consider them recyclable, and would welcome it if more brands chose them. At the same time, however, nearly two thirds wonder what happens to these packages after collection and sorting. This lack of knowledge leads to doubts about the actual recycling process and, consequently, the environmental impact of beverage cartons. Read the full research report at https://beveragecarton.be/
As shown in the chart below, the study commissioned by ACE demonstrates that consumers attach great importance to the recycling of the beverage cartons they use. This is reflected in the high sorting and recycling rate of over 90%.
Chart: Consumer perception of the sorting and recycling of beverage cartons
Misunderstandings due to lack of information
The survey shows that there is a strong need for clear and reliable information. Almost 6 out of 10 consumers (58%) explicitly expect clearer communication about the CO₂ footprint and the sustainability of packaging.
Table: Misconceptions and prejudices about the recycling of beverage cartons
| Misconceptions and prejudices | Percentage |
| Consumers think that beverage cartons are difficult to recycle. | 50% |
| Consumers do not know what happens to beverage cartons after sorting. | 65.9% |
| Consumers believe that beverage cartons are eventually incinerated. | 25% |
| Consumers believe that recyclability and the use of renewable raw materials mean the same thing. | 43.1% |
| Consumers think that forests in our country are disappearing due to the production of beverage cartons. | 38.8% |
| Consumers say that labels such as FSC/PEFC are not very reliable. | 31.7% |
| Consumers say they do not know which type of food and beverage packaging is the most or least sustainable. | 68% |
“As a sector, we support the European legislative initiatives aimed at preventing greenwashing. Transparency is essential to inform consumers correctly and strengthen their trust. That is why we opt for factual communication, supported by independent and third-party validated data such as life-cycle analyses, and we work together with reliable partners throughout the value chain”, says Nathalie Walter, managing director of ACE (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), which represents Tetra Pak, SIG Group and Elopak, the three largest producers of beverage cartons in our country.
Ease of use, environmental impact and food safety determine preference
Consumers believe that beverage carton packaging stands out from alternatives because of its ease of use (52.7%), environmental friendliness (44.6%), shelf life (43.9%) and food safety (39.8%). It is noteworthy that the sustainability of beverage cartons is the least credible argument when the sector itself uses it in its communication. More and better reliable information is therefore also needed in this area.
“Sustainability arguments must be based on facts that people can trust. Precisely because sustainability is currently the least credible argument when beverage carton producers highlight it themselves, we must continue investing in better, clearer and objectively substantiated information,” concludes Nathalie Walter.
*This is shown by a survey conducted in mid-January 2026 on behalf of ACE by an independent research agency among a representative sample of 1,000 Belgian consumers, representative in terms of language, gender, age and education. The maximum margin of error among 1,000 Belgians is 3.02%.
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Press contact
Leen Vandevelde
Tel: +32 471 09 17 24
About ACE Belgium
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment in Belgium is an association that brings together the leading manufacturers of beverage cartons for the Belgian and European markets: Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Group. Our mission is to contribute to improving and achieving the recycling rate of our packaging and to provide a platform to highlight its environmental benefits. Together with stakeholders from our sector (suppliers, producers, producer organisations, municipalities, recycling companies, etc.), ACE Belgium is committed to setting up concrete actions and developing tangible tools.
More information: https://beveragecarton.be/nl/