Crown underlined the importance of aluminium can lightweighting as part of their bid to drive sustainability.

The EU is seeking to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 as outlined in the European Green Deal. 

One of the deal’s key building blocks is the transition to the Circular Economy, which will reduce pressure on natural resources, create sustainable growth and jobs and help achieve the EU’s climate neutrality target.

The metal packaging industry is already making significant contributions to the Circular Economy thanks to the format’s inherent sustainability credentials. 

Crown has also prioritised resource efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and use of renewable energy to further drive down our environmental impact. 

Another key area of advancement lies in lightweighting. This process enables Crown to produce more cans with the same material and for resources to be used more efficiently, as energy consumption is reduced downstream in the supply chain.

Globally, the company has continued to make strides in reducing the thickness of can walls and ends without sacrificing container performance or the critical barrier and strength properties that its customers demand. 

The efforts have achieved a 3% global average reduction in our standard 12 oz. or 330 ml can weight in 2020 alone. 

The impact of lightweighting cannot be understated, the company insists. For example, Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) reports that CO2 emissions from the production of aluminium drink cans in Europe decreased by an average of 31% from 2006 to 2016, largely thanks to reductions in the amount of material required to make cans. Today, the walls of aluminium beverage cans are as thin as a human hair.

Lightweighting plays a critical role in Crown’s Twentyby30 sustainability program. As part of our Optimum Circularity pillar, Crown are committed to reducing packaging materials use by making our aluminium cans 10% lighter in weight by 2030 (compared to a 2019 baseline).