Toyo Seikan has developed the world’s lightest aluminium beverage can, the 190 ml 202 SOT (Stay-on-Tab) can, which uses only 6.1 g of aluminium per container.

The can has been chosen by Coca-Cola for its 185g Georgia coffee brand can products, and mass production started in the Kanto region in August on a limited basis.

The lightweight design of the world’s lightest aluminum can is made possible by reinforcing the bottom of the can using compression bottom reform (CBR) technology. This marks the first mass production of the 190 ml 202 SOT aTULC (Aluminum Toyo Ultimate Can) with CBR technology.  Furthermore, the world’s lightest can earned a joint Appropriate Packaging Award for Toyo Seikan and Coca-Cola Japan Co., Ltd in the Packaging Technology category of the Japan Packaging Contest 2024. According to Toyo Seikan research as of August 2024. The weight is calculated when the can is empty, excluding any laminate film on the can body or lid.

Part of the Georgia product line uses 185 g lightweight aluminum beverage cans.
Using CBR technology, Toyo Seikan has reduced the weight of its 190 ml 202 diameter SOT cans by 0.9 g, from 7.0 g to 6.1 g. This lower weight results in an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per can compared to existing cans. If CBR were implemented in all aluminium beverage cans where applicable, GHG emissions would be reduced by an estimated 40,000 metric tons annually. Based on the manufacturing records of the current specification aluminium beverage cans at Toyo Seikan in the fiscal year 2022 and the GHG reduction per can for the lightest can in the domestic market.

CBR is an innovative technology that allows for both high can-bottom compression strength and lightweight design, surpassing traditional can manufacturing techniques. It contributes to the reduction of GHG emissions by minimising the use of aluminium materials. Toyo Seikan is currently expanding the implementation of CBR across its manufacturing bases nationwide.

In addition to the 190 ml can mentioned earlier, Toyo Seikan is also using CBR to manufacture aluminium cans for 350 ml and 500 ml products. This initiative aims to promote the adoption of the lightest aluminium cans and further reduce GHG emissions.