Ball to build $200m aluminium cups manufacturing facility in US
Global packaging firm Ball Corporation has announced plans to build its first dedicated aluminium cups manufacturing facility in Georgia, US. The company hopes to serve the growing demand for innovative and sustainable beverage packaging in the US.
The new facility will be built adjacent to Ball’s existing aluminium beverage can manufacturing plant and is expected to boost production in Q4, 2020. The company plans to hire around 145 new employees for the facility to support the multi-year investment of approximately $200 million (€180.3 million).
Ball’s new aluminium cup will have several benefits, including sustainability. The cup is sturdy, durable and, according to Ball, provides an “elevated drinking experience”. It can be customised with logos and graphics and is currently available through a limited pilot program with major venues across the US. Once the plant in Rome, Georgia is fully operational, the company plans to introduce additional sizes to its portfolio, as well as expanding adoption of the cups to drinking establishments, colleges and universities, the hospitality industry, restaurants and more.
“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 Ball’s chairman, president and CEO, John A. Hayes. “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.”
Ball’s new aluminium cups are infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, according to the firm, which claims aluminium, is the most sustainable beverage packaging material. The company’s research shows that 67% of US consumers say they will visit a venue more often if they use aluminium cups instead of plastic cups and that 78% of consumers expect brands to use more sustainable options for containers in the next five years.
The new facility will be built adjacent to Ball’s existing aluminium beverage can manufacturing plant and is expected to boost production in Q4, 2020. The company plans to hire around 145 new employees for the facility to support the multi-year investment of approximately $200 million (€180.3 million).
Ball’s new aluminium cup will have several benefits, including sustainability. The cup is sturdy, durable and, according to Ball, provides an “elevated drinking experience”. It can be customised with logos and graphics and is currently available through a limited pilot program with major venues across the US. Once the plant in Rome, Georgia is fully operational, the company plans to introduce additional sizes to its portfolio, as well as expanding adoption of the cups to drinking establishments, colleges and universities, the hospitality industry, restaurants and more.
“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 Ball’s chairman, president and CEO, John A. Hayes. “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.”
Ball’s new aluminium cups are infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, according to the firm, which claims aluminium, is the most sustainable beverage packaging material. The company’s research shows that 67% of US consumers say they will visit a venue more often if they use aluminium cups instead of plastic cups and that 78% of consumers expect brands to use more sustainable options for containers in the next five years.
