FOREIGN INVESTORS COUNCIL 2021/2022
BUSINESS
BRANISLAV SAVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF THE BALL BEVERAGE PACKAGING EUROPE FACTORY NIKOLA NARANČIĆ, SALES DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE AT BALL
Leadership On The Road To A Circular Economy And
ECOLOGICAL PROGRESS We accepted a leadership role in identifying solutions for achieving ecological progress, but also in coming up with solutions to the climate crisis. Together with stakeholders across the sector of manufacturing aluminium beverage packaging, Ball works on the development and promotion of the best methods, policies and procedures to achieve a fully circular system for aluminium beverage packaging.
Branislav Savić
Nikola Narančić
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ince it first laid the foundation stone of its factory in Serbia, 17 years ago, company Ball has provided a continuous contribution to our country’s economy and environment. As one of the country’s largest Greenfield investments, with over 180 million euros invested in production to date, the company employs a total of over 250 workers and produces around 1.5 billion drinks cans annually, 80% of which are exported. It actively advocates for the raising of awareness about the necessity of recycling through the activities of non-profit organisation Recan and through constant regional campaigns, with a thousand locations already included in the system “Every can counts”.
RECYCLING AND THE ROAD TO ZERO EMISSIONS OF CO2 Every success also carries responsibility, and the greatest responsibility is towards the planet and the environment in which we live. Continuous improvements, strategic goals and joint work are essential to achieving ecological progress, but also to finding a solution to the 22
climate crisis. Ball is a company that has embraced its leadership role in finding such solutions, as well as in leading the sector on the road to a completely circular economy. “One of the objectives in the area of sustainability that we’ve committed ourselves to achieving at a global level by 2030 is the realisation of zero net emissions of CO2. Customers are seeking low-carbon and circular packaging, because there is ever-increasing demand for sustainable products that can only be achieved with packaging made from aluminium that is infinitely recyclable. We will launch an action that implies the development of guidelines for reducing CO2 emissions in our sector, because we believe that, by working together, we can exceed a recycling rate of 90% for aluminium cans, bottles and glasses,” says Nikola Narančić, sales director for Southeast Europe at Ball. “The fact is that, in Europe, 76% of cans are currently recycled, while the aim is to work together with partners from the sector to push that number beyond 90% by 2030. We believe that the percentage of cans that are recycled will increase significantly in the coming years, while – in addition to preserving the environment and economic benefits – the circular economy will also provide space to create new jobs.” FROM PACKAGING OF THE FUTURE TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY A can is a form of packaging that contains within it many advantages. It protects the contents from external influences, is very durable and difficult to break or damage, and is often very attractive in terms of look and design. On top of all that, it also protects the planet as a completely environmentally friendly product that can be recycled an infinite number of times, while – thanks to a simple recycling process – a new can is back in use in just 60 days. Moreover, only 0.4g of a total of 10g of aluminium is lost from a can in the recycling process. The vision of the sector is to increase the global average of recycled material to as high as 85 per cent by 2030.
