Rio Tinto and AB InBev partner to deliver more sustainable beer can

 

MONTREAL--()--Beer drinkers will soon be able to enjoy their favourite brew out of cans that are not only infinitely recyclable, but made from responsibly produced, low-carbon aluminium.

Rio Tinto and Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer, have formed a global partnership to deliver a new standard of sustainable aluminium cans. In a first for the canned beverage industry, the two companies have signed an MOU committing to work with supply chain partners to bring AB InBev products to market in cans made from low-carbon aluminium that meets industry-leading sustainability standards.

Initially focused in North America, the partnership will see AB InBev use Rio Tinto’s low-carbon aluminium made with renewable hydropower along with recycled content to produce a more sustainable beer can. This will offer a potential reduction in carbon emissions of more than 30 percent per can compared to similar cans produced today using traditional manufacturing techniques in North America.

The partnership will also leverage outcomes from the development of ELYSIS, a disruptive zero carbon aluminium smelting technology.

The first 1 million cans produced through the partnership will be piloted in the United States on Michelob ULTRA, the fastest growing beer brand in the country.

Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “Rio Tinto is pleased to continue to partner with customers in the value chain in an innovative way to meet their needs and help produce sustainable products. Our partnership with AB InBev is the latest development and reflects the great work of our commercial team.”

Currently, around 70 percent of the aluminium used in AB InBev cans produced in North America is recycled content. By pairing this recycled content with low-carbon aluminium, the brewer will take a key step towards reducing the carbon emissions in its packaging supply chain, which is the largest contributor of emissions by sector in the company's value chain.

We are constantly looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint across our entire value chain and improve the sustainability of our packaging to reach our ambitious sustainability goals,” said Ingrid De Ryck, Vice President of Procurement and Sustainability, North America at AB InBev. “With this partnership, we will bring low-carbon aluminium to the forefront with our consumers and create a model for how companies can work with their suppliers to drive innovative and meaningful change for our environment.”

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said “This partnership will deliver cans for AB InBev’s customers that pair low carbon, responsibly produced aluminium with recycled aluminium. We look forward to working with AB InBev to continue our leadership on responsible aluminium, bringing transparency and traceability across the supply chain to meet consumer expectations for sustainable packaging.”

Through the partnership, AB InBev and Rio Tinto will work together to integrate innovative technology solutions into the brewer’s supply chain, advancing its transition toward more sustainable packaging and providing traceability on the aluminium used in cans.

Notes to editors

Rio Tinto is an industry leader in responsible aluminium production, with operations in Canada run on 100% renewable hydropower. In 2016, Rio Tinto launched RenewAl, the world’s first certified low CO2 primary aluminium brand. It has helped to pioneer responsible production standards for the global industry as a founding member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), becoming the first producer to offer ASI Aluminium in 2018. Looking to the future, ELYSIS, Rio Tinto’s partnership with Alcoa supported by Apple and the governments of Canada and Quebec, is further developing a revolutionary new direct greenhouse emissions free aluminium smelting technology.

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Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
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T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
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Rio Tinto Limited
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Category: General

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com
riotinto.com

Follow @RioTinto on Twitter

Media Relations, United Kingdom
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
T +44 20 7781 1623
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Media Relations, Asia
Grant Donald
T +65 6679 9290
M +65 9722 6028

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
T +61 3 9283 3088
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
T +61 (0) 3 9283 3087
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
T +61 8 6211 6013
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, United Kingdom
Menno Sanderse
T: +44 20 7781 1517
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
T +44 20 7781 2051
M +44 7920 010 978

Investor Relations, Australia
Natalie Worley
T +61 3 9283 3063
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
T +61 3 9283 3627
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: General