Overview

 

Packaging and sustainability
Packaging has an important role in preserving Earth’s precious resources and reducing carbon footprint. When thrown away, packaging fills up landfills and pollutes the environment, but when recycled, it can contribute to a more sustainable world.

Cans – the world’s sustainable packaging
Aluminum and steel cans are 100% recyclable and endlessly recyclable, providing continuous material for the production of new cans. This reduces the amount of trash going into landfills.

Cans are also made with more recycled content than other packaging, easing the demand for new natural resources. And aluminum or iron – the natural resources used to make cans – are the world’s third and fourth most abundant materials.

Among all beverage packaging, aluminum cans have the highest recycling rate. Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use. In fact, aluminum cans can be recycled and returned as new to a store shelf in just 60 days.

80 to 90% of all steel ever produced is still in use. Metal maintains its molecular structure throughout the recycling process, enabling it to be endlessly recycled into new steel products, such as cars, construction material and other cans.

Less for more
Innovations in “lightweighting” technology have significantly reduced the amount of metal needed to produce each can:
• 15% less aluminum since 1993
• 31% less steel since 1990

Recycling for energy-saving
Each steel can when recycled saves enough energy to run 1 hour of TV or 1 load of laundry.

One aluminum can recycled saves enough energy to run 3 hours of TV or 4
hours of incandescent light.

That’s not all. Unlike refrigerated and frozen food, canned food requires no refrigeration during storage. This makes canned food economical to ship and store, saving costs for producers, transporters, retailers and consumers.

Reduced wastage
Unconsumed and expired food makes up 10 to 15% of the food waste generated in Malaysia. Canned food helps to reduce food wastage. It has the longest shelf life compared to other food packaging, and doesn’t require special storage conditions. Food packed in cans is also well protected against elements that cause food to spoil.