Metal is central to our business – and to our sustainability story. Its inherent properties, including its strength, recyclability and elemental nature help us excel across all three dimensions of sustainability.
From every angle, our primary materials – steel (formed from iron) and aluminum – are naturally circular. At their origin, they respectively represent more than 5% and 8% of the earth’s crust, ranking them among the most abundant resources in the world. As elements, metals are also infinitely recyclable with zero loss of properties, ensuring they will never be taken for granted but instead be used for valuable innovation time and time again.
The metal packaging industry is a perfect example of the circular economy at work. As a permanent, highly recyclable material, the resources utilized in metal manufacturing continue to be reinvested in the production of new metal products, including cans.
Metal packaging protects products across the distribution chain, ensuring goods reach consumers in peak condition. By safeguarding critical characteristics such as taste, quality and functionality, the material fosters brand differentiation and builds trust through reliability. Metal packaging’s superior strength, durability and barrier properties help reduce waste and support healthy, nutritious diets.
Recycling metal minimizes the use of Earth’s resources and the level of greenhouse gas emissions used in subsequent production.
Enables reductions in energy consumption:
Encourages recycling and upcycling:
With high market value, impressive inherent properties and design flexibility, metal helps support the health of the manufacturing and farming industries.
More than 160,000 workers are directly employed in the U.S. aluminum industry and for each job, approximately 3.3 employment positions are created elsewhere.36
Canned produce moves from the field to the package within 4.5 hours, much faster than the 24 days it takes for fresh produce to make the same journey, helping to maximize the amount of product farmers can sell and support the health of the farming industry.
“Flawed” produce can be used for chopped fruit and vegetable products, minimizing food loss, food waste and encouraging greater use of crops.
The infinite recyclability of metal packaging allows the industry to maintain production without requiring additional supply.
Aluminum contains tremendous market value at over $1,300 per ton, serving as one of the only materials in the consumer disposal stream that more than pays for the cost of its own collection.37
Americans alone have earned $25 billion through recycling aluminum beverage cans since 1976.
Advancements for the beverage can, like the 360 End®, allow businesses to offer fully branded, yet eco-friendly alternatives to plastic cups, as well as enhance the consumer experience and retain market share.
Innovations in food cans such as Peelfit™ and Easylift® ends breathe new life into canned products, providing convenience and functionality that translate to added value for consumers.
The 360-degree billboard surface of beverage cans allow for eye-catching branding and messaging that encourages consumer engagement and purchases. The inks and finishes used for decoration do not detract from the recyclability of the cans, but in fact help to fuel the process.