Ball targets 55 percent carbon reduction by 2030 in support of Paris Agreement
30 Apr 2020 --- Metal beverage packaging supplier Ball has taken a series of steps to lower its carbon footprint and reduce resource waste. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved of the company’s targets to reduce absolute carbon emissions within its own operations by 55 percent and within its value chain by 16 percent by 2030 against a 2017 baseline. Further, Ball has awarded five of its plants with the R. David Hoover Sustainability Award for their respective energy efficiency efforts made in 2019, while its “game-changing” aluminum cup was recognized in Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards.
Ball's efforts aim to help accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy and limit global warming to 1.5C.The SBTi approval is what Ball calls a “milestone” in the company’s efforts to support the Paris Agreement goals. “The private sector has a vital role to play in accelerating a low carbon economy. These approved science-based targets demonstrate our commitment to help our customers reach their sustainability goals and deliver lower carbon packaging that enables a circular economy,” says Kathleen Pitre, Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer.
The SBTi is a collaboration of more than 800 global companies that have set clearly-defined corporate emission reduction goals aligned with the latest climate science. Since last year, Ball earned the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Certification for all 23 of its EMEA plants as well as a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the seventh consecutive year.
In 2020, Ball is set to conduct additional renewable energy agreements in the EU. The company also aims to launch its comparative life-cycle assessment for the US, Brazil and European countries to help the beverage industry move toward a truly circular economy.
Recognizing sustainability performance
Ball has also awarded four of its Global Beverage Packaging plants and one Aerosol Packaging plant with its R. David Hoover Sustainability Award. The company lists the following progress updates:
Aerosol Packaging (San Luis Potosí, Mexico): Reduced its electricity intensity by almost 5 percent in 2019, improving its electricity efficiency by 10.4 percent since 2016. Launched a campaign to educate the public about aluminum's sustainability credentials and to increase recycling rates.
Beverage Packaging North & Central America (Kapolei, Hawaii, US): Set a plant record for electricity and gas efficiency in January 2019 and saved Ball more than US$1 million through energy efficiency projects throughout the year. Completed three water efficiency projects, which resulted in a 30 percent reduction in normalized water usage between 2018 and 2019.
Beverage Packaging South America (Buenos Aires, Argentina): Reduced total waste by 15 percent, increased recycling 4 percent and decreased water usage by more than 3 percent in 2019.
Beverage Packaging Asia Pacific (Yangon, Myanmar): Improved by nearly 23 percent in 2019 by implementing several energy efficiency projects. Executed communications campaigns about the environmental benefits of aluminum cans for local audiences, engaging celebrities, social influencers and NGOs.
Beverage Packaging EMEA (Gelsenkirchen, Germany): Decreased waste by 24 percent. Improved electricity efficiency by nearly 5 percent, natural gas efficiency by 12 percent and water efficiency by 6 percent in 2019. Excelled in driving Beverage Packaging EMEA’s Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification.
The reusable aluminum cup is set to make waves in the beverage sector catering to the sports and entertainment industry.“All of our operations are continuously seeking opportunities to minimize environmental impacts, support their local communities and educate consumers about the importance of beverage and aerosol can recycling,” says Bjoern Kulmann, Director, Global Sustainability.
A game-changing cup
Next to the internal awards listed above, Ball’s aluminum cup was recognized in Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards with an “honorable mention” in the consumer products category. Just like an aluminum can, which has a global recycling rate of 69 percent, the aluminum cup can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing quality. The new format is considered a “game-changer” for major entertainment venues and concessionaires looking to be more environmentally active.
“We designed the cup to provide consumers with a better, more sustainable way to enjoy their favorite beverages while helping to alleviate pollution associated with single-use plastic cups. We look forward to ramping up production of the aluminum cup later this year and eventually expanding its adoption to bars, breweries and retail locations across the US,” affirms Daniel Fisher, Senior Vice President and COO, Global Beverage Packaging.
The aluminum cup has been available to consumers at venues across the US, including the Pepsi Center, Mercedes Benz Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium. Last October, Ball broke ground on its first dedicated aluminum cups manufacturing facility in Rome, Georgia, US.
Edited by Anni Schleicher
