Rio Tinto in partnership with Corona Canada launch specially-marked low-carbon beverage cans utilizing ELYSIS technology

On 29^th June 2022, the world’s second-largest metal and mining corporation, Rio Tinto announced, that in partnership with Corona Canada, a pioneer in the beer industry has launched Canada’s first specially-marked, low carbon beverage aluminium can manufactured by Ball Corporation. The availability of the cans is now through a pilot in Ontario and was made using aluminium from Rio Tinto, leveraging the ELYSISTM technology.

In addition to the limited release, 1.2 million cans were released with QR codes to encourage consumers for learning more about the cans' low carbon footprint.

This pilot aims to put a fully traceable beverage can in consumers' hands. Rio Tinto will leverage insights from its START initiative in the future to enable consumers to use QR codes to see exactly how their products are made from mine to market and to access sustainability data.

Presently, around 70 per cent of the aluminium used in cans produced in North America is made with recycled aluminium. However, pairing this recycled metal with Rio Tinto’s low-carbon aluminium – made with renewable hydropower – and metal produced using the direct greenhouse gas emissions-free ELYSISTM smelting technology reduces carbon emissions by more than 30 per cent.

Andrew Oosterhuis, the Vice President of Marketing at Corona Canada said: “As a brand, Corona believes we have a responsibility to be an ally to our environment, recognizing that change needs to start within our production lines as a tangible way we can help protect paradise and reach our ambitious sustainability goals.”

“By continuing to introduce market-leading technologies in the beverage space, we’re leading by example for other companies and their suppliers to innovate and drive meaningful change for our environment.”

Tolga Egrilmezer, the Head of Sales and Marketing at Rio Tinto said: “Leveraging insights from START, 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. These specially marked, low carbon beverage cans will showcase the responsibly produced aluminium Rio Tinto delivers, bringing together renewable hydropower and the innovation of zero-carbon ELYSISTM smelting technology.”

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and Rio Tinto signed an MOU in 2020 to work with supply chain partners to bring AB InBev products to market in aluminium cans that meet industry-leading sustainability standards.