Alupro champions metal packaging at ESS Expo 2025

Earlier this month (17-18 September), Alupro took to the stage at the Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo to champion the circular economy for metal packaging. The event, which was held at the NEC in Birmingham, brought together hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees to help shape the future of our planet.

As part of a packed agenda, Alupro’s executive director Tom Giddings chaired the ‘Why metal can’t be left behind: the next frontier in DRS’ panel discussion. The session explored how a DRS will supercharge beverage can recycling and the long-term benefits a scheme will deliver for UK PLC.

Giddings was joined by an illustrious council of speakers from across the aluminium packaging supply chain, including Alexandra Williams, UK government affairs & policy at Novellis; John O’Maoileoin, group sustainability director at CANPACK Group; and Rosie Bartrum, head of public affairs at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB.

Elsewhere, in the RWM Packaging Theatre, Alupro’s sustainability and public affairs manager, Martin Hyde, took part in the ‘Navigating the new legislation: understanding the Deposit Return Scheme’ panel discussion. Hyde joined Carla Brian, head of partnerships at Biffa; and Parrick Brighty, head of recycling policy at the Environmental Services Association (ESA), to discuss the implications of incoming DRS legislation and how it will make the economic value of materials more apparent to consumers.

Throughout the two-day expo, Alupro exhibited on stand CAR-B331. Alongside showcasing its latest educational campaigns, the team were on hand to discuss how effective communication can help to raise widespread consumer awareness about best practice aluminium packaging recycling.

Tom Giddings, executive director at Alupro, commented: “ESS brought together leading representatives from across the environmental supply chain to discuss, debate and learn. The event offered a unique opportunity to present our latest awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, as well as share the positive impacts of our latest collaborations. It’s always a brilliant show to attend and we enjoyed sharing our latest insights.”

ESS is the premier event dedicated to showcasing new innovations and solutions in the fields of the circular economy, net-zero emissions, sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Bringing together seven separate exhibitions – The Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM); the Complete Auto Recycling Show and Metals Recycling Event; The Contamination & Land Remediation Expo; The Geotechnical Engineering and Operations Expo; The Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo; The Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo; and The Air Quality & Emissions Expo, the event provides a pivotal platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.