Ball and EN+ Metals team to introduce ultra

Sep 11, 2023

Ball Corporation and EN+ Group's Metals segment RUSAL, have announced an exclusive partnership to incorporate ultra-low carbon aluminium in the slugs and impact extruded containers manufactured by Ball.

The aluminium produced by EN+'s Metals segment, uses state-of-the art inert anode technology and renewable energy-based smelting, generating 85% less CO2e compared to the global average for aluminium production.

Thanks to its ReAl sustainability platform, Ball is able to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of its aluminium slugs and impact extruded containers. CO2e reductions are achieved through a combination of recycled content, low-carbon aluminium, and lightweighting.

Senior director for sustainability, innovation and business development Jason Galley explained: "Aluminium is the perfect material for a circular economy because of its high value, and the fact that it can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality. Few people realise that 75% of all the aluminium ever produced in the history of mankind is still in use today. With increasing demand for aluminium packaging around the world, we need to focus on mitigating any environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts related to that supply. This is why we collaborate closely with suppliers such as EN+'s Metals segment to achieve responsible sourcing."

Vice president of Ball Aluminium Technologies, Sylvain Brisseau said: "Our ambition is to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation in aluminium packaging, together with partners like EN+ Metals segment. Ultra-low-carbon aluminium is one of several levers that Ball uses to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its aluminium slugs, cans and bottles. Our ReAl sustainability platform allows us to also reduce the weight of our packaging, and incorporate recycled content."

The greenhouse gas emissions of primary aluminium can be reduced in several ways: for example, by using a renewable electricity supply for the smelting process; and also by using a novel inert anode technology that produces oxygen instead of the traditional carbon anode that produces CO2. EN+'s Metals segment aluminium is produced in the Kraznoyarsk (Russia) smelter using their own renewable, hydroelectric power, and is made using an inert anode technology. As a result, it generates 85% less CO2e compared to the global average for aluminium production.

Steve Hodgson, director of sales and marketing of EN+'s Metal segment said: "Our partnership with Ball Corporation represents the future possibility of sustainable aluminium products that go beyond our current low carbon capabilities by eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions during production. We are particularly excited to complement Ball's own sustainability platform and help meet the demands of future generations."

Ball and EN+'s Metals segment are members of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a multi-stakeholder work program dedicated to enhancing the sustainability in the global aluminium sector. Ball's Aerosol Packaging plants aim to become ASI-certified by early 2022.