Novelis and DRT to use recycled aluminium alloys in beverage can ends

Novelis and DRT have agreed to collaborate on accelerating the implementation of high-recycled-content alloys in aluminium beverage can ends. The joint development agreement between the aluminium roller and precision manufacturer aims to improve the production of sustainable can ends, and for it to be adopted across the global metal packaging industry.

Greg Schlicht, senior vice president and chief commercial officer at Novelis, said: “Novelis is committed to accelerating the transition to a more circular aluminium beverage packaging industry, and this partnership with DRT is a key step in that journey. By working with an industry leader in can end manufacturing, we believe we can ensure that beverage brands and can makers have solutions to accelerate uni-alloy adoption without compromising quality.”

‘Uni-alloy’ refers to a design solution that enables the beverage can end to be made from up to 99% recycled content. Using the uni-alloy in can end production could cut emissions by half according to Novelis.

Novelis, the Atlanta-based company, currently has an average of approximately 85% recycled content in its beverage cans. Novelis and DRT are both established leaders in the metal packaging sector, with DRT able to produce 3,000 can ends per minute.

Vice president of innovation at DRT, Brandon Rinehart, said: “DRT has a long-standing legacy of innovation, having helped bring the easy-open end to market, and today we’re building on that legacy with a clear focus on sustainability and smart engineering,

“By leveraging our deep technical know-how with Novelis’ advanced recycling and rolling technology, we are unlocking new value and improving efficiencies via sustainability benefits for the entire beverage can industry.”