Sustainability has grown from a simple buzzword to a key aspect of every business operation across all industries today. Consumers are growing more eco-conscious each day, demanding businesses do the same, and it’s not like companies can afford to disagree with their clients.
When it comes to production, packaging plays a significant role in pollution, forcing businesses to find sustainable packaging alternatives if they want to remain relevant. That’s where aluminum cans come in.
Not only are these cans infinitely recyclable, but they’re also lightweight, durable, and have a lower carbon footprint compared to other packaging options. This post will explore why aluminum cans are a sustainable solution for every beverage business.
Environmental Benefits of Aluminum Cans
Aluminum cans offer many benefits for beverage producers who want to reduce their environmental impact, including:
- Lower Carbon Footprint
Aluminum beverage cans are lightweight and need less energy to transport than heavier materials like glass or plastic, resulting in a lower carbon footprint. They’re also stackable, allowing movers to fit more cans in a single shipment, reducing the overall shipments.
- 100% Recyclable
Recycling old aluminum cans takes only about 5% of the production energy for aluminum. This means less greenhouse gas emission, making it a sustainable packaging option. In fact, recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a TV for 2 hours. Now imagine the impact we could have if everyone worldwide recycled just one can.
- Reduced Landfill Waste
The U.S. recycled 62 billion cans out of the 92 billion produced in 2012, saving landfills a staggering 67%. Today, aluminum beverage cans represent one-third of all recycled material and are considered the most prized commodity in the national recycling system. Despite the growing global landfill crisis, it could’ve been way worse if we never reclaimed these cans in the first place.
Economic Benefits of Aluminum Beverage Cans
Beverage producers can save money and increase sales by switching their packaging solutions to aluminum cans. Here are some economic benefits of these containers.
- Lower Production Costs
Aluminum is abundant and easily sourced, making it a cost-effective material. The cans require less material than glass or plastic, reducing production costs and increasing output.
Additionally, producing aluminum beverage cans uses a highly automated process with machines that make thousands of cans per hour. Such efficiency attracts manufacturers who want to reduce costs while increasing their profitability.
- Easy to Transport
Aluminum cans are lighter than other packaging like glass or plastic bottles, requiring less energy transport. Their compact nature allows movers to stack them more efficiently, reducing transportation space and trips and saving fuel costs.
The cans are also more durable than glass bottles and less likely to break or shatter during transportation, reducing the risk of loss and damage expenses for distributors.
- Extended Shelf Life
Have you ever wondered why baked beans and canned pineapple are packed in aluminum cans? It’s because they’re a natural barrier against light, air, and moisture. This shield keeps food fresh and flavorful for longer, reducing spoilage and waste.
Consumers will also buy larger qualities of canned goods due to their extended shelf life, resulting in more sales and revenue.
Health Benefits of Aluminum Cans
Other than environmental and economic benefits, these cans are also good for our health. Some of their health benefits include:
- Protection Against Light and Air
Light and air change the taste, aroma, and color of beverages. Aluminum cans protect these drinks against such elements to keep customers satisfied. For Instance, craft breweries use aluminum products for their beer products to ensure their customers enjoy the same quality and taste experience as they would at the brewery.
- No Bisphenol-A (BPA) Contamination
BPA is a chemical used to make some plastics and resins, which can seep into food and beverages and cause various health issues. Aluminum cans are BPA-free, making them a safe packaging option consumers prefer.
- No Harmful Chemical Leaching
Aluminum is a stable compound that doesn’t react with food or beverages. Similarly, the cans have an inner coating that prevents contact between the beverage and the metal, ensuring safe consumer products.
Customizability and Versatility of Aluminum Cans
Aluminum cans give beverage producers various customization and versatility options, allowing their products to stand out on shelves while servicing their customers’ needs.
Available in Different Sizes
Aluminum beverage can sizes range from 8 ounces to 24 ounces, with 12 and 16 ounces as the most popular ones. Producers may offer different serving sizes depending on their customer’s needs and preferences.
For example, energy drinks are often packaged in smaller sizes, while beer and sparkling water take on larger cans.
Printing Options
Beverage companies can showcase their branding, logos, and messaging on aluminum cans using different methods like digital, offset, and flexographic printing. This allows producers to create high-quality and durable labels with sharp and vibrant colors.
Versatility for Different Beverages
You can pack beer, sparkling water, RTD cocktails, energy drinks, kombucha, coffee, wine, and seltzer in aluminum beverage cans because they have a neutral flavor and are resistant to light, oxygen, and moisture. The cans also have satisfying openings, like pop-top and stay-on-tab, to meet different consumer preferences.
Best Practices for Aluminum Can Usage
Aluminum cans have many benefits as a sustainable packaging option. However, we must use and dispose of them properly to maximize their advantages. Here are some suitable practices for using these cans:
Tips for Reducing Waste
Beverage producers must ensure the can size matches the beverage’s serving size to reduce waste and save production costs. Additionally, they should recycle the cans and encourage customers to follow suit, which minimizes waste.
Maintaining Quality
Producers should handle the cans carefully during production and store them in a cool, dry environment to maintain the container’s integrity and preserve the beverage’s quality.
Proper Disposal
Since aluminum beverage cans are 100% disposable, producers should encourage their customers to recycle them by providing recycling bins at their premises. They should also include recycling instructions on the cans and partner with recycling facilities to promote the practice.
Upgrade Your Packaging
Looking to the future, consumer behavior is moving towards an entirely sustainable society. And beverage producers can meet the demands of eco-conscious customers by switching to aluminum cans. It’s not just about the benefits – it’s also about taking action. And for producers who need a reliable aluminum beverage can supplier, we recommend G3 Enterprises. Their commitment to sustainability and quality makes them an excellent partner for any business looking to go green while maintaining high-profit margins.
