Thinking beyond recycling

The sustainability credentials of metal cans are often talked about. But now the greenness of the metal packaging sector is extending beyond just the containers, with Crown announcing that all 14 of its beverage can plants in the US and Canada are being run on renewable energy.   

The can maker has ambitious plans to employ 60% renewable electricity by 2030, 90% by 2040 and 100% by 2050 – targets established in Crown’s Twentyby30 initiative, a sustainability programme that addresses climate issues among other areas of urgent global concern. 

It is great to hear of such initiatives and sets a precedent that other can makers must surely now adhere to.  

Consumers attitudes are constantly changing, and they want to know that the products they’re using, or consuming have been produced in a sustainable way. When drinking from a can they’ll know that the metal it is made of is infinitely recyclable, but they may wonder how much energy was consumed to produce it.  

The use of renewable energy is just one step that helps support a greener economy. But in addition to this can makers and their supply chain partners must continue to make efforts to reduce the amount of energy they consume, by making production more efficient or looking at how to reduce waste.  

This continued investment in ‘going green’ will have a big impact on the environment and help the metal packaging sector further strengthen its sustainability story.  

• Alec Peachey, CanTech International acting editor.
  Keep in touch via email: [email protected] Twitter: @CanTechIntl or LinkedIn: CanTech International magazine.