Mastering metal
Metal packaging is a natural barrier against light and oxygen, and is also unbreakable. No other packaging format can match metal’s ability to package food and beverages in a consumer friendly, attractive and convenient format while preserving them in optimum and safe conditions.
If you want to work with metal then Crown should be your partner. We are a global leader in metal packaging, supplying a wide range of markets. Crown is the largest producer of food cans and vacuum closures in the world. We are one of the big three in beverage cans, and either number one or two in every aerosol and speciality packaging market where we compete. We operate 149 manufacturing plants in 40 countries and our highly skilled team of experts support large, small, global and local customers alike. While we have global reach, we aim to service our customers with locally manufactured products.
Crown is the largest producer of food cans and vacuum closures in the world
Innovation
Our dedicated research and development centres in the UK and United States allow us to be an innovation pioneer across the multiple sectors that we cover to improve functionality, bring added value and enhance products. This is well recognised by our customers. Crown’s SuperEnd® beverage ends reduce metal use by 10 per cent and make beverage cans even more environmentally friendly. To date, more than 450 billion SuperEnd® beverage ends have been produced by Crown and its licensees, saving over 117,000 metric tons of aluminium, 2,000 metric tons of coatings, 900,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases and 2.35 million barrels of oil.
With Crown’s 360 End®, the entire lid of the beverage can is removed, turning the metal can itself into a drinking cup and eliminating the need for separate glassware. We pioneered Easylift easy-open food ends and more recently launched the award-winning OrbitTM closure with a revolutionary design which is universally easy to open and enhances convenience for consumers of all ages.
Crown’s established BICAN® aerosol technology offers consumers excellent practicality due to its ergonomic design and 360-degree operation and requires little effort to use. Viscous products can be dispensed cleanly and accurately with total evacuation – no shaking required. To improve aesthetics and promote differentiation in the promotional sector, Crown produced the first fully automated seated end tin, another example of how we bring together our knowledge and technological expertise.
Building brands
We have a great track record of working with new companies and brands to identify the right packaging for their product, and helping them grow. The craft beer sector illustrates our commitment. We’ve worked with brands, such as BrewDog, Harbour and Sly Fox, from the beginning. At the International Metal Decorators Association annual conference this summer, Crown won best of category in craft cans for its work with Mother Earth Brew Co’s Honcho Hefe wheat beer. Fourteen years ago, we commenced working with startup Scottish whisky distiller Bruichladdich to develop a range of innovative metal packaging. We have grown together and now we supply almost 100 times the initial volume.
Sustainability
Not all packaging is created equal. Many formats trumpet specific aspects of sustainability, such as recyclability or shelf life, but don’t stack up when looking at the complete picture. Metal packaging doesn’t have that problem. Its many intrinsic properties translate to high scores in all three dimensions of sustainability – economic, environmental and social.
Crown’s environmental commitment is a fundamental part of our business philosophy. We have led the way in reducing the amount of metal used in consumer packaging and we continually work to increase productivity, safety, and reduce energy and material usage. For example, today’s 33cl aluminium beverage can weighs over 25 per cent less than 20 years ago.
Metal packaging is 100 per cent and infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be recycled again and again without loss of performance or integrity – Metal Recycles Forever™. In fact, the can that is recycled today can be back on shelves in as little as 60 days. Three-quarters of rigid metal packaging in Europe is currently recycled and the figure goes up every year. Our industry goal is to reach 80 per cent by 2020.
Once metal enters the material-to-material loop, in which it is recycled again and again, it will always be available for future generations. This means metal is a permanent material and can make a real contribution to closing the material loop and supporting the development of the circular economy.
Experience and expertise
We have the expertise to support customers at all stages of development from design inception to filling. Crown designers suggest and advise on the best match between shape, design and branding, and our technical and engineering teams develop the products before Crown’s manufacturing teams deliver quality Brand-Building Packaging™.
Crown also provides technical support for our customer’s filling operations. Scottish brewers BrewDog called upon our customer technical service team to help install a new can-filling line in Aberdeen. We conducted a 360-degree review of their planned operation and provided a wide range of training for the BrewDog team. Martin Dempster, director of special ops at BrewDog, says: “Within the wider drinks industry we are a relatively small player, but Crown’s technical service team tailored training and support for us, and made the whole process feel like a partnership from start to finish, in the same way it would for a global brewer. It is this bespoke treatment and its obvious passion for the can, and the industry, that put Crown ahead of its competitors for us.”
Investing in the future
We continuously invest in our people – one of Crown’s strongest assets. We have a collective passion for metal packaging and our vision is that Crown should be recognised as the preferred supplier of metal packaging.
Building on a tradition of innovation, quality and service, we reach ever-greater heights as we provide diversified packaging solutions to meet our customers’ needs.
We are the only company with the breadth and depth of product lines in metal, the most sustainable material available, enabling our customers worldwide to build their brands.
We are CROWN Brand-Building Packaging™ and we are creating an infinitely brighter future.
A UNIQUE PIECE OF BRITISH HISTORY
In April 2011, Crown was honoured to be commissioned by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to create a commemorative tin holding, as tradition requires, a slice of the wedding cake for Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Manufactured by Crown in Mansfield, UK, the tins were presented to all guests attending the wedding and sent to many international dignitaries worldwide.
To learn more visit: www.crowncork.com
