In Japan aluminum cans will take the place of plastic bottles from dsfsdf's blog

Japanese beverage vendors are transitioning away from using plastic bottles in favor of aluminum cans as part of their efforts to create a more sustainable economy. Select Japanese brands are now offering beverages packaged in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles, according to a recent survey. A counteractive measure in the fight against marine plastic pollution is framed as the rationale for the decision.

In accordance with the World Wildlife Fund, 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans each year. Microplastics have been found in the stomachs of 90% of seabirds. Plastic, on the other hand, continues to be the world's preferred packaging material due to its low cost as well as its versatility in terms of functionality. Packaging applications account for approximately 350 million tonnes of total global production.

However, with environmental consciousness increasingly guiding consumer choices and national plastic bans proliferating in recent years, brands are beginning to invest in environmentally friendly technologies and products.

As of April of this year, all 12 teas and soft drinks in the brand's product portfolio are now available in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles thanks to the efforts of Ryohin Keikaku Co, a group of independently managed Japanese stores that also owns beverage vendor Muji. Aluminum cans are significantly more likely than plastic bottles to be recycled horizontally, according to data. Horizontal recycling is defined as material from a product being reused to create another product that is similar to the one that was originally created.

In accordance with the Japan Aluminium Association and the Council for PET Bottle Recycling, the horizontal recycling rate for aluminum cans is 71%, whereas the horizontal recycling rate for plastic bottles is only 24,3%, according to the Japan Aluminium Association and the Council for PET Bottle Recycling. When it comes to shelf life, aluminum cans outperform all other alternatives for beverage packaging.

The opacity of the cans prevents the deterioration of their contents as a result of exposure to sunlight. Ryohin Keikaku partially implemented aluminum cans into their operation in order to reduce the amount of wasted drinks. According to the retailer, seamless aluminium tubing the switch to aluminum cans resulted in expiration dates being extended by 90-270 days.

Due to the fact that the PET recycling aluminium foil manufacturerloop is not infinite--after multiple recycling cycles, the plastic irreversibly degrades to the point where it cannot be reused--aluminum cans are arguably more recyclable than PET bottles. Earlier this year, Dydo Group Holdings Inc, another prominent Japan-based beverage producer, made a similar switch, replacing plastic bottles with aluminum cans in six different products, including coffee and sports drinks.

Aluminum is gaining momentum, according to Yoshihiko Kimura, the president of the Japan Aluminium Association.

Following an educational campaign that began in July, the group is now planning an art contest incorporating aluminum cans later this year in order to raise even more awareness about the benefits of using aluminium for packaging. The trend toward the use of aluminum in place of plastic in packaging applications has gained traction around the world as well. Some examples include: water being served in aluminum cans at the most recent G7 Summit held in Cornwall this past June, and consumer goods giant Unilever pledging tosell shampoo in aluminum bottles in the United States earlier this month.

Aluminum is currently one of the most recycled materials on the planet, ranking second only to steel.

Despite this, the material has been criticized for having a negative impact on the environment due to the fact that its manufacturing process is extremely energy intensive. In addition, the high cost of production makes widespread application difficult.

Given that the demand for recycled PET is constantly increasing, particularly in the European context, and that the consumption of aluminum-based packaging is expected to decline over the next 10 years, according to a study conducted by Wood Mackenzie, a research and consulting firm specializing in energy, chemicals, and metals, aluminium foil containers is clear that aluminum alone will not solve the plastic crisis.

However, it is possible that Japanese beverage companies producing canned drinks are not off to a bad start. The same WoodMac report predicts an increase in demand for aluminum-based packaging in a number of South East Asian emerging markets, including Malaysia and Indonesia. As a result, the global packaging industry may benefit from continuing to monitor the Japanese market over time.