Re-In-Can-Ation project making Stone & Wood cans more sustainable

Visy is manufacturing a more sustainable beverage can, packed with an average of 83% recycled content, at its site in Yatala, Queensland.

In partnership with Stone & Wood and its parent company Lion, as well as Novelis and Rio Tinto, Visy has been working on a pilot project called Re-In-Can-Ation, to make a more sustainable beverage can.

The project is expected to run for 18 months and the beverage can is made using aluminium coil that contains high proportions of recycled content as well as low-carbon virgin (primary aluminium) material. These cans contain nearly a quarter more recycled aluminium than the Australian average, said Kate Baker, Visy’s General Manager Circular Economy & Sustainability.

“By packing this can with recycled content, we’re conserving resources and keeping more waste out of landfill,” Baker said. “Even better, these cans are easily recycled after use, so you can enjoy your beer while contributing to a circular economy.

“We’ve partnered with three other businesses to develop and manufacture this beverage can. It’s a terrific example of what we can achieve when working on innovative solutions with our suppliers, and our food and beverage customers.

“We continuously work with all our customers to look at ways to increase recycled content in their packaging and this more sustainable beverage can has set a new benchmark for sustainability.”

Sustainability is at the heart of the partnership with Visy, said Justin Merrell, Sustainability Director at Lion.

“We are grateful to work with a supplier aligned to our ambitious decarbonisation pathway that understands the importance of collaboration to make an impact,” he said. “The estimated 59% carbon emission reduction achieved with this packaging is a great proof point for a strong circular economy and trusted partnerships.”

Together, the partner companies have made the beverage can more sustainable thanks to the following:

• The supply of low-carbon primary aluminium from Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay aluminium smelter, located in Tasmania;
• Novelis making the aluminium coil using low-carbon primary aluminium and recycled aluminium, some of which is collected by Visy from kerbside recycling and container deposit schemes;
• Manufacturing the beverage can locally, at Visy’s site in Yatala, Queensland;
• Stone and Wood sourcing materials locally and operating as an accredited carbon neutral brewery.

The companies are calling for greater transparency of where materials come from and how they are made throughout the entire supply chain.