Aluminum cans are very popular right now for beverage companies, and for good reasons! There are a handful of benefits that aluminum cans have over glass bottles, and with the various sizes of cans being offered now, there are additional ways to differentiate products! In this article, we are going to cover a handful of the benefits of aluminum cans and why more and more companies are choosing them for their beverages of all kinds.

Lightweight 

One of the main advantages of aluminum cans over glass bottles is their weight. Aluminum is a much lighter material than glass, which makes aluminum cans much lighter than glass bottles of comparable size and capacity.

This difference in weight has a number of benefits when it comes to transportation and shipping. First, because aluminum cans are lighter, they require less energy to transport. This means that they have a smaller carbon footprint and are more environmentally friendly than glass bottles.

In addition, because aluminum cans are lighter, they are also easier to handle and transport. They take up less space in shipping containers, which means that more cans can be transported at once, reducing the overall shipping costs for manufacturers and distributors.

Overall, the lightweight nature of aluminum cans makes them a more efficient and cost-effective choice for transporting and shipping beverages and other products than glass bottles.

Environmentally Friendly

Aluminum is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality or purity. This means that aluminum cans can be recycled over and over again, and recycled aluminum can be used to make new cans or other products. In contrast, glass can be recycled a limited number of times before it begins to lose its quality and must be downcycled or disposed of.

The recycling process for aluminum cans is also more energy-efficient than the recycling process for glass bottles. Producing new aluminum from recycled aluminum requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from bauxite ore. In contrast, producing new glass from recycled glass requires about 30% less energy than producing new glass from raw materials, but it still requires a significant amount of energy.

Overall, because aluminum cans are more easily and efficiently recycled than glass bottles, and because they require less energy to transport, they are considered to be more environmentally friendly than glass bottles.

Longer Shelf Life

Aluminum cans are typically coated with a thin layer of polymer to protect the contents from any interaction with the metal. This coating also helps to prevent contamination from bacteria, oxygen, and moisture. Additionally, the hermetically sealed lid of an aluminum can provides a tight barrier that keeps air and light out, which can cause the contents to deteriorate over time.

In contrast, glass bottles are more susceptible to changes in temperature and exposure to light, which can impact the quality of the contents. Glass bottles do not provide as much protection from light, and certain types of light can cause a chemical reaction with the contents, resulting in a change in taste or odor. Additionally, glass bottles can shatter, which can also impact the quality of the contents.

Therefore, because aluminum cans provide better protection from external factors like light, temperature, and moisture, products packaged in aluminum cans can have a longer shelf life compared to those packaged in glass bottles. This is especially important for products like beer and other carbonated beverages, which can be negatively impacted by exposure to air and light.

Unbreakable 

One of the advantages of aluminum cans over glass bottles is that they are virtually unbreakable, which makes them safer to transport and handle.

Aluminum cans are made of a thin sheet of aluminum that is formed into the desired shape and size using specialized machinery. This process produces a can that is strong, lightweight, and highly resistant to breakage. In contrast, glass bottles are made of glass, which is fragile and can break easily if dropped or mishandled.

This makes aluminum cans a more practical choice for products that need to be transported over long distances or in bulk, as they are less likely to break during shipping and handling. Additionally, because aluminum cans are less likely to break, they pose less of a risk of injury to workers who handle them during production, transportation, and retail.

Overall, the unbreakable nature of aluminum cans makes them a safer and more reliable choice for transporting and handling beverages and other products than glass bottles.

Lots Of Sizes To Choose From

Aluminum beverage cans are designed for a variety of purposes and come in different sizes. 

Crowlers are commonly used by craft breweries and taprooms to package beers for takeaway. These cans are oversized and can hold up to 32 ounces of liquid. They’re ideal for sharing beers with friends or taking home larger quantities of beer than a standard 12oz can. 

Slim cans are a newer addition to the market and are taller and thinner than a standard 12oz can. They have a diameter of around 2.6 inches and a height of around 6.2 inches. They’re a popular option for low-calorie and flavored beverages such as energy drinks, hard seltzers, and some types of beer. 

16oz cans are a popular size for beer and other carbonated beverages. They’re slightly taller and wider than a standard 12oz can, with a diameter of around 2.8 inches and a height of around 6.2 inches. 16oz cans are a popular option for breweries and beverage companies that want to offer a larger serving size without going all the way up to a 32oz Crowler. They’re also a popular option for single-serve canned cocktails and other premium beverages. 

There are many other sizes of aluminum beverage cans available, including 8oz, 10oz, and 24oz cans, among others. The size of the can will typically depend on the specific product being packaged and the intended use case.