Stone & Wood debuts beer cans with 83% recycled content

Lion’s Stone & Wood beer brand, along with its supply chain partners Visy, Novelis and Rio Tinto, has announced a packaging initiative that uses low-carbon primary aluminium and contains on average 83% recycled aluminium in its beverage cans.

The pilot initiative, named Re-In-Can-Ation, brings together key players across the aluminium value chain to create a more sustainable beverage can that is estimated to deliver a 59% reduction in carbon emissions compared to Stone & Wood’s existing cans.

The 18-month trial will see 15 million of the cans enter the market and is estimated to be the equivalent of reducing carbon emission by 1235 tonnes when compared to the equivalent quantity of Stone & Wood’s existing cans.

“This partnership shows what’s possible when industry leaders unite behind a common goal,” said Lion Group Sustainability Director Justin Merrell. “In this project we’re demonstrating the potential to reduce carbon emissions and conserve resources with the containers our consumers recycle. It’s proof that when the full value chain collaborates, we see a stronger circular economy and great benefit to the environment.

“Only two-thirds of Australia’s aluminium cans are currently recycled, so there is still work to do.”

Each supply chain partner plays a crucial role in the initiative to ensure end-to-end environmental sustainability throughout the manufacturing process. Novelis manufactures high-recycled content aluminium coils, Rio Tinto provides low-carbon primary aluminium from its Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania, and Visy manufactures the cans locally at its Yatala site in Queensland.

“We’re partnering with customers like Lion to develop more sustainable packaging solutions, and this innovative beverage can sets a new benchmark for sustainability,” said Visy Circular Economy & Sustainability General Manager Kate Baker. “By incorporating higher levels of recycled content, we’re diverting more waste from landfill and giving materials a second life. Even better, these cans are easily recycled, allowing you to enjoy your beer while contributing to a circular economy.”

“Low-carbon aluminium is a key solution for industries striving to decarbonise, and we are pleased to provide Australian aluminium from our Bell Bay smelter in Tasmania — which is largely powered by renewable energy — to help produce lower-carbon cans,” added Rio Tinto Vice President Aluminium Sales Amy Abraham.

Image credit: Lion.