Ball Corporation, a global provider of infinitely recyclable aluminum beverage packaging, and aluminum recycler and supplier Novelis, announced that the Ball Aluminum Cup is now composed of 90% recycled content. This evolution builds on the aluminum cup’s slogan of infinite recyclability by lowering its carbon footprint, therefore further positioning the product as a sustainable solution for packaging waste challenges across the sports and entertainment, food service, retail, and beverage industries.
Ball designed the lightweight aluminum cups to bring beverage packaging circularity to sports and entertainment venues in response to growing consumer preference for more sustainable products. Producing the cup with this high level of recycled content significantly reduces its carbon footprint, because manufacturing with recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than the same process using primary aluminum.
“At Ball, we’re committed to innovative solutions that contribute to creating a truly circular economy,” said Dan Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Corporation. “Aluminum beverage packaging — including the Ball Aluminum Cup — has always been a sustainable alternative to plastic, and this update only further strengthens its sustainability attributes. We aim to deliver solutions that not only benefit our global customers but also benefit the planet, and we are excited to partner with Novelis to bring a Ball Aluminum Cup made with 90% recycled content to communities everywhere.”
The aluminum cup, which is produced at Ball’s new manufacturing plant in Rome, Georgia, and made with 90% recycled content, is available now and currently in use by Ball customers. In fact, the aluminum cups are helping to drive sustainability at sports and entertainment venues across the country, including at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado; SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California; Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida; State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. At Ball Arena, in particular, aluminum beverage packaging has helped to eliminate more than 350,000 single-use plastic cups and bottles, and the arena is on pace to eliminate more than 1 million single-use plastic cups and bottles in 2022.
“In line with Novelis’ purpose of ‘Shaping a Sustainable World Together,’ we’re focused on innovating alongside customers like Ball to increase the use of recycled content in their products,” said Steve Fisher, president and CEO of Novelis Inc. “We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with Ball and our joint efforts to increase the use of aluminum for beverage packaging. Aluminum beverage packages — bottles, cans and cups alike — are a perfect product for the circular economy as they can be recycled over and over without ever losing their material properties.”
Infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, aluminum is the most sustainable beverage packaging material, and, like aluminum cans, aluminum cups can be easily recycled. In fact, 75% of the aluminum ever produced is still in use today and aluminum cans, cups, and bottles can be recycled and back on a store shelf in as little as 60 days. In addition to its sustainability and recycling strengths, the aluminum cup is lightweight, sturdy, cool to the touch, and provides an elevated drinking experience.