Rio Tinto markets low-emissions aluminum can

London-based metals and mining firm Rio Tinto is part of a partnership offering what it calls “Canada’s first specially-marked, low carbon beverage can.” Partners in the effort include Montreal-based Rio Tinto Aluminium, brewer Corona Canada and packaging producer Ball Corp.

Rio Tinto says the 1.2 million cans, available in Ontario, were made using aluminum from Rio Tinto that also uses Elysis technology. The company refers to Elysis as “revolutionary technology that enables the production of metal without direct carbon dioxide emissions during the aluminum smelting process, instead emitting pure oxygen.”

In 2020, as part of a sustainability commitment between Rio Tinto and global brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, Rio Tinto said the two companies’ joint efforts “will see AB InBev use Rio Tinto’s low-carbon aluminum made with renewable hydropower along with recycled content to produce a more sustainable beer can.”

As part of the Corona effort, cans have been produced with a QR code designed to “inspire consumers to learn more about the cans’ low carbon footprint.” Corona Canada is a business unit of AB InBev.

Rio Tinto says currently around 70 percent of the aluminum used in cans produced in North America is made with recycled aluminum. “Pairing this recycled metal with Rio Tinto’s low-carbon aluminum – made with renewable hydropower – and metal produced using the direct greenhouse gas emissions-free Elysis smelting technology reduces carbon emissions by more than 30 percent.”

Tolga Egrilmezer of Rio Tinto says, “We look forward to putting more information into the hands of consumers so they can see how we are partnering with leading brands like Corona to help deliver more sustainable supply chains and products.”

Rio Tinto describes Elysis as a technology company created through a partnership between “aluminum industry leaders Rio Tinto and Alcoa, with support from Apple and the governments of Canada and Quebec.”