Anheuser-Busch InBev and Rio Tinto have partnered to deliver low-carbon, sustainable aluminium cans.

Initially focused in North America, the partnership will see AB InBev use Rio Tinto’s low-carbon aluminium made with renewable hydropower along with recycled content to produce a more sustainable beer can. 

This will offer a potential reduction in carbon emissions of more than 30% per can compared to similar cans produced today using traditional manufacturing techniques in North America.

The first one million cans produced through the partnership will be piloted in the United States on Michelob ULTRA, the fastest growing beer brand in the country.

Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said: “Rio Tinto is pleased to continue to partner with customers in the value chain in an innovative way to meet their needs and help produce sustainable products. Our partnership with AB InBev is the latest development and reflects the great work of our commercial team.”

Currently, around 70% of the aluminium used in AB InBev cans produced in North America is recycled content. 

By pairing this recycled content with low-carbon aluminium, the brewer will take a key step towards reducing the carbon emissions in its packaging supply chain, which is the largest contributor of emissions by sector in the company’s value chain.

“We are constantly looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint across our entire value chain and improve the sustainability of our packaging to reach our ambitious sustainability goals,” said Ingrid De Ryck, Vice President of Procurement and Sustainability, North America at AB InBev. 

“With this partnership, we will bring low-carbon aluminium to the forefront with our consumers and create a model for how companies can work with their suppliers to drive innovative and meaningful change for our environment.”

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