Novelis, DRT team up to advance aluminum can recycling

USA – Novelis, a global leader in aluminum solutions, has joined forces with DRT Holdings, a specialist in metal packaging, to enhance the sustainability of aluminum beverage can ends. 

According to a recent announcement, the partnership focuses on developing high-recycled-content alloys to create a more circular packaging industry.

The collaboration aims to streamline the production of beverage can ends using a “uni-alloy” design, where the ends are made from the same material as the can body. 

This approach allows can ends to contain up to 99% recycled aluminum, cutting their carbon footprint by over 50%. 

The initiative is designed to enable seamless adoption across the global aluminum beverage can market, ensuring sustainability without sacrificing quality.

In a statement, Greg Schlicht, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Novelis, noted, “This partnership with DRT is a key step in accelerating the transition to sustainable aluminum beverage packaging.” 

He highlighted the goal of providing solutions that meet the needs of beverage brands and can makers worldwide.

DRT brings its expertise in high-speed manufacturing, producing up to 3,000 can ends per minute. 

Brandon Rinehart, Vice President of Innovation at DRT, noted that the company is leveraging its legacy of innovation to drive sustainability. 

He stated that combining DRT’s technical expertise with Novelis’ advanced recycling capabilities creates new efficiencies for the industry.

Novelis already incorporates an average of 85% recycled content in its beverage packaging globally. 

The company’s efforts align with growing demand for eco-friendly packaging, as evidenced by its recent US$2.5 billion investment in a recycling and rolling plant in Bay Minette, Alabama, set to begin operations in mid-2025. 

This facility will increase Novelis’ capacity to recycle 15 billion cans annually, further supporting its sustainability goals.

In related news, Novelis recently partnered with Meadow, a Sweden-based packaging technology company, to join its aluminum supply chain network. 

This collaboration, announced in early 2025, aims to increase recycled content in Meadow’s refillable aluminum packaging, reinforcing Novelis’ role in sustainable packaging innovation.

The Novelis-DRT partnership marks a significant step toward decarbonizing the aluminum industry. 

By optimizing manufacturing processes and increasing recycled content, the collaboration sets a new standard for sustainable beverage packaging, addressing the rising global demand for environmentally responsible solutions.

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