Evercan aluminium sheet has been certified for high recycled content by SCS Global Services, a major force in third-party environmental, sustainability and food quality certification.
Phil Martens, Novelis’ president and CEO, says the new product represents ‘tremendous progress in sustainable consumer products packaging’, adding that Evercan represents the first step towards the company’s ultimate goal – that of creating an aluminium can with up to 100% recycled content.
A press release issued by Novelis states that the company is initially offering aluminum can body sheet guaranteed to contain at least 90% recycled content. “When combined with the can end made of a different alloy during the can making process, the new Novelis Evercan will enable beverage companies to market their beverages in standard 12-ounce aluminium cans certified as made from a minimum of 70% recycled content,” says Novelis.
The new product is commercially available now in North America and Europe, and will be available worldwide later this year.
The development of Evercan is part of Novelis’ plan to increase the recycled content of its products to 80% by 2020. Over the past two years the company has announced capital investments in the region of $500 million and aims to double its recycling capacity to 2.1 million metric tons by 2015.
Recycling aluminum requires 95% less energy, and produces 95% fewer greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), than manufacturing primary aluminum.
John Gardner, Novelis chief sustainability officer, says that phase one of the Evercan initiative acts as a catalyst for the company to work more closely with consumer brand customers, its own supply chain partners and other stakeholders to increase end-of-life recycling of UBCs. “We encourage wide participation from other aluminum suppliers, beverage and packaging companies, retailers and distributors, recyclers, municipalities, environmental groups and consumers themselves in promoting the use of more sustainable consumer packaging through aluminum recycling,” he said.