USA – Aluminum packaging solutions provider, Ball Corporation will be investing approximately US$200 million in constructing its first dedicated aluminum cups manufacturing facility in Georgia, US.
Ball Corporation said that the facility will serve the growing demand for innovative, sustainable beverage packaging for US customers and consumers.
To be located adjacent to the company’s existing aluminum beverage can manufacturing plant in Rome, Georgia, the new facility is expected to ramp up production in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Ball intends to hire approximately 145 new employees for the cups facility to support the multi-year investment.
“We’re increasingly hearing from customers and consumers that they want to do the right thing for the environment, and they need more options,” said John Hayes, Ball chief executive officer.
“This product launch is aligned with our ‘Drive for 10’ strategy and is another step in innovating to serve unmet needs.
“Using our years of experience and specialised expertise, we are proud to provide both our customers and consumers with another environmentally friendly and fun option in our industry-leading portfolio of aluminium packages.”
According to the packaging supplier, the aluminum cup is sturdy, durable, cool to the touch, and provides an elevated drinking experience and can also be customized with logos and graphics.
The cup is currently available through a limited pilot program with major venues and concessionaires across the US in a 20-ounce size produced in Ball’s Westminster, Colorado, innovation facility.
When the Rome plant is fully operational, Ball plans to introduce additional sizes to round out its cups portfolio and intends to expand adoption of the cups to drinking establishments, parks and recreation, colleges and universities, hospitality, restaurants, business and industry.
Ball maintains that aluminum being an infinitely recyclable, economically valuable and most sustainable beverage packaging material, aluminum cans, bottles and cups can be easily and sustainably integrated in the beverage industry
Preliminary data indicates that 75% of the aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
Ball’s research shows that 67 percent of US consumers say they will visit a venue more often if they use aluminum cups instead of plastic cups and that 78 percent of consumers expect beverage brands to use environmentally friendly containers in the next five years.
