Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

For CCA, sustainability is an important part of our priorities because it is core to our values and culture. We are committed to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and to conducting business in a planet-friendly manner. We aim to advance the sustainability of our operations through our sustainability program, internal and external engagement and using the support of our supply chain.

Cans Make the World Go ‘Round

A Circular Material for a Circular Future

Steel cans have been an integral part of our lives for over 200 years, providing safe and nutritious food and beverage packaging. But did you know that steel cans are also one of the most sustainable packaging options available today?

As we work to build a more circular economy, steel cans are an excellent example of how recycling and reusing materials can significantly reduce waste. Steel is endlessly recyclable without loss of quality, meaning cans made from recycled steel are just as useful as those made from raw materials. In fact, roughly 75% of all steel produced is still in use today!

Let’s take a closer look at why steel cans are a prime example of sustainable packaging.

Infinitely Recyclable

Steel is one of the most recycled materials. Unlike plastic or paper, the properties of steel do not degrade when recycled multiple times. This means steel cans can be endlessly recycled into new steel products.

The steel industry overall has impressively high recycling rates. Steel is the most recycled material in North America. Steel is also widely recycled thanks to steel’s magnetic properties.

Recycling steel saves nearly 75% of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials. Using recycled steel to make new cans reduces water use by 80%, air pollution by 86%, water pollution by 76%, and mining waste by 97%, compared to using virgin materials.

Recycling Rate

Steel is one of North America’s most recycled materials. As manufacturers of steel cans, we are fortunate to work with a material that is easy to sort and recycle without losing its value.

Steel Attributes

Steel cans help preserve product quality while offering the best barrier properties to prevent spoilage. They also help prolong shelf life and prevent food waste.

Recycling Access

Steel cans are widely accepted at local recycling facilities. This is due to their ease of separation and higher resale value compared to other packaging materials.

Packaging That Makes Recycling Sense

Steel cans make the recycling process quick, easy, and effective. Here’s why:

It is easy to sort and process at recycling facilities thanks to its magnetic properties.
It has high collection and accessibility rates, making it easy for consumers to recycle.
Existing recycling infrastructure in the US and Canada widely supports steel can recycling.
As a simple material without complex composites, it is easier to upcycle into new steel products.

Overall, steel cans are a model example of sustainable product design through recyclability.

It’s All in the Can!

On top of their stellar sustainability credentials, steel cans provide many benefits as a packaging choice:

They help fight food waste by preserving perishable and seasonal fresh foods for longer periods. Foods that would otherwise spoil quickly can be enjoyed for months when canned.
Canned foods provide an affordable source of fruits, vegetables, beans, meats, and more. Canning helps pack nutritional food at low costs.
The canning process preserves nutritional value with minimal to no preservatives added.
Canned foods encourage healthier lifestyles by making it easy and convenient to choose cooking at home.

As you can see, steel cans offer sustainability through recyclability while also providing social and health benefits. By choosing recyclable and reusable materials, we can transition to a circular economy that extracts maximum value from the world’s limited resources. Steel cans provide a model for how product packaging can be designed to circulate in a closed-loop system.

With their impressive credentials, it’s clear steel cans are one of the most eco-friendly packaging options widely available today. From sourcing recycled steel to endlessly recycling used cans, steel cans are a circular solution that will continue making the world go ’round for generations to come.