Canned craft beers: the benefits of beverages in a can

Canned craft beer beverages have become increasingly popular in the past several years, but they aren’t as well-known among the public as their bottled counterparts. While some of this can be attributed to marketing tactics and word-of-mouth, cans are superior to bottles in many ways, particularly when protecting your beer from air exposure, light exposure, and temperature fluctuations. Here are some key benefits of canned craft beers that you should know about.

We already talked about some of the can benefits, especially when it comes to variety packs which are very popular and how to create them very easily with our automatic case packer

Aluminum cans – Market values

Let’s talk numbers first, according to Business Wire, The North America Aluminum Foil market was valued at USD 14,906.73 million in which expected to reach USD 19,801.07 million by at a CAGR 4.07% from -.

Aluminum cans are one of the most common types of packaging for both solid and liquid products. These cans are long-lasting, lightweight, recyclable, cost-effective, and easy to handle, while still keeping the contents' quality and flavor. Apart from that, aluminum cans are used in industries such as food, beverage, and medicines since they are corrosion resistant and require less care during shipping.

Demand from the Food and Beverage Industry is increasing. Increased consumption of processed foods and drinks, an improvement in product shelf life, and an increase in consumer disposable income are some of the key factors projected to drive aluminum can demand over the projection period. Concerns about the material's non-recyclability, the rate at which it is created, and the harm it causes to marine life have raised the global emphasis on reducing the amount of plastic packaging. The effect it has on the climate by contaminating the ocean has fueled the expansion of the aluminum can sector.

CANS over BOTTLES – Advantages

There are many advantages to drinking craft beer from cans. Look at the top 10 benefits of canned beverages over bottled ones.

1 - Cans are perfect to preserve the quality of craft beer

Cans are the perfect vessel to preserve the quality of craft beer because they are airtight and light resistant, which means cans will not let any light or air into them. The aluminum material also prevents the metallic flavor from seeping out of the can and any bacteria that might have been residing on it. Besides, aluminum cans are recyclable, which is becoming increasingly important these days, and they take up less space during shipping.

Furthermore, it can have greater thermal conductivity than glass, so it stays cold longer. To put this in perspective: A glass bottle takes ten minutes to cool down by half its original temperature, while a can takes just four minutes. With these features, it's no wonder why craft beers are starting to be packaged exclusively in cans!

2 - Lighter & better space

Cans are also lighter than glass bottles, making them easier to carry. This, in turn, means you can carry more cans at once, and they won't be as heavy or breakable. This convenience has been seen with other items like canned water, where people are more likely to purchase multiple cans due to its convenience compared to carrying one glass bottle, which is harder and heavier than carrying 2-3 cans. Lastly, you can fit many more cans on your shelf since they take up less space since it's not enclosed by glass.

3 - Canned beers have a longer shelf life

One of the most important factors when deciding what type of beer to buy is how long it'll last before going bad. It can provide better protection against oxygen exposure, so canned beer can last for over two months on the shelf without going bad, whereas glass bottles only last about six weeks. This alludes to the fact that canned craft beers are superior in taste and quality to bottled. Not only does a can maintain its freshness, but it also preserves all the delicate flavors of different varieties. Not having any contact with sunlight ensures the beer maintains its natural color rather than turning yellow or cloudy, like bottled brews, often do after aging.

4 - Environmentally Friendly

Craft beer beverages can also promote environmental friendliness. Aluminum cans are lightweight and thus create less pollution during transport. Cans are also easily recycled and require little energy to produce (compared to glass). In addition, they don't use resources such as wood pulp, metal foil, metal sheets, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), plasticizers, chemical dyes, or polymers (plastic) glass bottles do when exposed to air, heat, and sunlight for extended periods. This is a huge benefit for both the environment and beer enthusiasts.

5 - Cans are better for Craft Breweries

One of the benefits of craft beer beverages packaged in cans is how convenient it is for brewers. Compared to bottles, cans are easier to stack and store. This makes it more feasible for small breweries to stock their product rather than them having to worry about whether they will get enough shelf space at local stores. Additionally, cans come with specially-designed tops that make it easy for brewers to package their beer quickly and efficiently without having any messes (such as spilled beer). Cans also have special technology integrated into them that you can use while packaging beer, such as an oxygen scavenger which eliminates excess air from your canned beverage, so you don’t need a separate tool to package your product.

6 - Cans are Perfect for Outdoor Venues

Glass bottles can shatter and spill everywhere, which would never happen with a can. This is especially helpful for outdoor events such as music festivals and sporting events, where cans are more secure and less dangerous. Cans are also perfect for drinking beer outside because they're lightweight and less fragile than glass.

7 - Eco-Friendly Packaging

Another major perk of canned craft beers is the eco-friendly packaging they offer. These cans are made of aluminum, which is highly recyclable and requires less energy to produce. When the can is produced, it doesn’t use resources such as glass bottles, paper labels, or cardboard boxes. Plus, cans are much more durable than glass bottles because they are less likely to shatter and can handle being crushed. This leads to less waste and more recycling opportunities for beer drinkers!

Furthermore, cans are a great alternative to glass bottles. They can be used repeatedly without harming the planet or the beer inside. Cans are also a cheaper way to ship beer compared to glass bottles, as they cost less in terms of raw materials and transportation costs.

8 - Cans can be used for more than just craft beer

Aside from craft beer, cans can be used for many more things. They are also great for various canned goods such as soup, vegetables, fruit, and other canned drinks. Cans are even good for cold food such as salads and sandwiches! This is a bonus for those who love the outdoors and want to take their food with them. Cans are sturdy and don’t crush, making them ideal for camping, picnics, and hiking trips. If you're looking for something versatile and convenient to take on your adventures, look no further than a can. It's safe to say that cans are truly one of the best things to ever happen to beer aficionados.

9 - Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer

While cans are typically for alcoholic craft beer, it’s also possible to find canned non-alcoholic craft beers on the market. Non-alcoholic beer cans are a great option for people of all ages and demographics. If you’re not interested in intoxicating but still want the taste of a delicious craft beer, then this is the way to go. Cans are also good if you’d prefer a beer but can’t drink one due to various medical reasons such as diabetes or pregnancy. With these canned options, you can enjoy a refreshing taste of craft beer with less guilt and more confidence in yourself.

10 - Cans come in a variety of sizes

Depending on the amount of beer you drink and what you’re using it for, there are different sizes of cans to choose from. Some cans come in tallboy sizes, which are taller and slimmer than a standard can. These are perfect for drinking a beer after mowing the lawn or tailgating before the big game. Depending on how thirsty you are, you can also find 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 24-ounce cans. Many canned beers also come in light, low-carb, gluten-free nitro styles. All these variations make it easy to enjoy craft beer at home and out of the house.
In case you were wondering what is the height of a beer can, here is a beer can size chart where you can see all the available beer can sizes :

Aluminum Cans vs. Glass Bottles:
Which one is the most sustainable beer package?

Well, according to a recent report via the Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) — The Aluminum Can Advantage: Sustainability Key Performance Indicators — demonstrating the ongoing sustainability advantages of the aluminum beverage container compared to competing packaging types. The report updates several key performance indicators (KPI) for and finds that consumers recycle aluminum cans at more than double the rate of plastic (PET) bottles. Aluminum beverage cans also contain anywhere from 3X to 20X more recycled content than glass or PET bottles and are far more valuable as scrap, making aluminum a key driver of the financial viability of the recycling system in the United States. This year’s report also introduces a brand-new KPI, the closed-loop circularity rate, which measures the percentage of recycled material used to go back into the same product — in this case a new beverage container. A two-page report summary is available here.

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The report also shows a modest decline in the aluminum beverage can consumer recycling rate last year. The rate declined from 46.1 percent in to 45.2 percent in amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions in the market. Despite the rate decline, the number of used beverage cans (UBC) recycled by the industry actually increased by about 4 billion cans to 46.7 billion cans in . The rate nevertheless decreased amidst growing can sales last year. The 20-year average for the consumer recycling rate is around 50 percent.

The Aluminum Association is endorsing an aggressive effort announced earlier by CMI to increase aluminum can recycling rates over the coming decades from today’s level of 45.2 percent to 70 percent by ; 80 percent by and 90 percent by . The association will work closely with CMI and our member companies on a comprehensive, multi-year effort to increase aluminum can recycling rates by pushing for the creation of well-designed container deposit systems, among other measures.

“Aluminum cans remain the most recycled and recyclable beverage container on the market today,” said Raphael Thevenin, vice president of sales and marketing at Constellium and chair of the Aluminum Association’s Can Sheet Producers Committee. “But the U.S. recycling rate for cans lags behind the rest of the world – a needless drag on the environment and the economy. These new U.S. recycling rate targets will catalyze action within and outside the industry to bring more cans back into the recycling stream.”

“CMI is proud that the aluminum beverage can continues to outperform its competitors on key sustainability metrics,” said Robert Budway, president of CMI. “CMI beverage can manufacturer and aluminum can sheet supplier members are committed to build on the beverage can’s superior sustainability performance and have demonstrated that commitment with the industry’s new recycling rate targets. Achieving these targets are not only important to the industry’s growth, but also will benefit the environment and the economy.”

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The closed-loop circularity rate, a new KPI introduced this year, measures the percentage of recycled material used to go back into the same product — in this case a new beverage container. It is partly a measurement of the quality of recycling. When products are recycled, the recovered materials can be used to make the same (closed-loop recycling) or a different and sometimes lower grade product (open-loop recycling). Closed-loop recycling is preferred because typically the recycled product maintains similar quality with the primary material and the process can be repeated over and over again. In contrast, open-loop recycling can lead to compromised material quality through either a change in chemistry or an increase in contamination in the new product.

Other key findings in the report include:

• The industry recycling rate, which includes the recycling of all aluminum used beverage containers (UBCs) by the U.S. industry (including imported and exported UBCs) rose to 59.7 percent, up from 55.9 percent in . This change was largely driven by a significant increase in UBC exports in , which impacts the final number.
• The closed-loop circularity rate for aluminum cans (described above) was 92.6 percent compared to 26.8 percent for PET bottles and between 30-60 percent for glass bottles.
• The average recycled content of an aluminum can stands at 73 percent, far exceeding rival packaging types.
• The aluminum can remains by far the most valuable beverage package in the recycling bin, with a value of $991/ton compared to $205/ton for PET and a negative value of $23/ton for glass, based on a two-year rolling average through February . Aluminum scrap values declined precipitously during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but have since recovered dramatically.

Increasing aluminum beverage can recycling rates will have a huge impact on the overall sustainability of the domestic aluminum industry. Earlier this year, the association released a new, third-party life cycle assessment (LCA) report showing that the carbon footprint of aluminum cans made in North America has dropped by nearly half over the past three decades. The LCA also found that recycling a single can saves 1.56 megajoules (MJ) of energy or 98.7 grams of CO2 equivalent. This means that recycling just a 12-pack of aluminum cans will save enough energy to power a typical passenger car for around three miles. The energy saved by recycling the aluminum beverage cans that currently go to U.S. landfills each year could save around $800 million for the economy and enough energy to power more than 2 million homes for a full year.

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