Rusal has struck a deal with Budweiser to provide the brewer with ‘ultra-low’ carbon beer cans.

The Russian company will provide five million cans that are made from aluminium produced using technology that eliminates carbon dioxide from the smelting process.

“The is the first commercial rollout of a near-zero carbon — or 0.01 per cent — aluminium,” said Greg Barker, executive chair of En+ Group, the parent company of Rusal. “It is the first time it has been done at scale.” 

The products are due to go on sale in the UK later this year with the 440ml cans made at the company’s Krasnoyarsk plant in Siberia with hydropower.

The five million cans supplied to Budweiser will then be filled in breweries in Lancashire and South Wales, which are powered by renewable energy.

Mauricio Coindreau, Sustainability Director at Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, said: “Like our consumers, we care about climate change, and want to make it as easy as possible for people to choose environmentally-friendly options in their day-to-day lives, whether it’s enjoying a beer brewed with 100% renewable electricity and locally sourced ingredients, or now in a low-carbon can. 

“We’re excited about this pilot, made possible thanks to the collaboration with our partners and this amazing technological breakthrough, and we look forward to being able to roll it out even further.”