Michelob Ultra x Elysis

Michelob Ultra aluminium cans / Source: Anheuser-Busch InBev

AluminiumFood & BeverageNorth AmericaPackaging

3 MINUTE READ

Kaltrina Bylykbashi

WHAT WE SAY:

We love a world's first, especially when it involves zero-carbon materials. These Michelob Ultra cans are the first, made using Elysis’ emission-free aluminium (Apple has also used the aluminium in its Macbooks).

To date, aluminium’s biggest selling point has been the infinite recyclability at its end-of-life - it will be game-changing if its production is made ‘clean’ too. And while these cans are an exciting first, the real excitement will be when this zero-carbon aluminium is just the default choice and we are no longer even writing about its use.

KEY FACTS:

AB InBev’s Michelob Ultra and Elysis partnered up, in January 2021, to pilot low-carbon beer cans across the United States.
Michelob Ultra distributed 2.5 million cans made with Elysis’ zero-carbon Aluminium.
Elysis technology eliminates all direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aluminium smelting process, with oxygen produced as a by-product instead of carbon.
Because AB InBev already uses nearly 70% recycled aluminium, the cans are reported to produce 30% less carbon emissions per can than regular aluminium cans.

DIVE DEEPER:

Aluminium is often touted as a circular material because of its ability to be recycled infinitely. However, the production of aluminium is incredibly energy intensive and produces an incredible amount of greenhouse gases.
Elysis is a revolutionary new zero-carbon production technique, pioneered as part of a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa, and backed by the Canadian government and Apple.
The Elysis technology removes the need to use carbon anodes during the smelting process, instead replacing them with proprietary materials, which remain inert during smelting, eliminating direct CO2 emissions.
The aluminium used for the cans comes from Montreal and Saguenay in Canada.
The Michelob Ultra pilot was the first time Elysis’ aluminium was used in the beverage can sector. Other retail users include Apple’s Macbooks and in the Audi e-tron GT’s alloy wheels.
The pilot was the first initiative arising from a global MOU between Rio Tinto and AB InBev, committing to produce cans from low carbon aluminium, although it is unclear when and at what volumes the companies will scale to next.

"...With this partnership, we will bring low-carbon aluminium to the forefront with our consumers and create a model for how companies can work with their suppliers to drive innovative and meaningful change for our environment."

Ingrid De Ryck - VP of Procurement and Sustainability, North America, AB InBev

Key Design Considerations:

Think about the full picture behind your emissions

It is notable that even using Elysis’ zero-carbon aluminium only reduces the overall carbon footprint of a can by 30%, which is an important reminder that there is no single magic material that makes products fully ‘sustainable.’

When will Elysis be widely commercially available?

Elysis announced in September 2021 that it had successful completed an industrial scale pilot and was moving onto producing commercial-sized cells for a 2023 demonstration. Until then, access to its zero-carbon aluminium will be restricted to existing partners, such as Apple and AB InBev.

What about the other 99.9% of the market, both at production and end-of-life?

2.5 million cans sounds like a lot - until you realise that over 100 billion cans are produced in the US alone. On top of this, the aluminium recycling rate for cans is only 50% in the US, far short of the 98% achieved in Brazil. A good deposit return scheme would make a huge difference in the US. When using materials like aluminium, it is crucial to consider the entire lifecycle of a product, including local recovery rates.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Ball Aluminum Cup

MATERIAL

A circular alternative to a single-use staple, offering a 'cool touch' drinks solution for hospitality and events.

Aluminium

INSPIRATION
3M read

Manifesto Coffee

Coffee, in a can. Open, enjoy, then (effortlessly) recycle

CCL Container Aluminum Wine Bottle

MATERIAL

A 100% recyclable aluminium wine bottle offering improved chilling capabilities.

Michelin-approved wine in lightweight aluminium cans

Michelob Ultra x Elysis

WHAT WE SAY:

We love a world's first, especially when it involves zero-carbon materials. These Michelob Ultra cans are the first, made using Elysis’ emission-free aluminium (Apple has also used the aluminium in its Macbooks).

KEY FACTS:

DIVE DEEPER:

Aluminium is often touted as a circular material because of its ability to be recycled infinitely. However, the production of aluminium is incredibly energy intensive and produces an incredible amount of greenhouse gases.

Elysis is a revolutionary new zero-carbon production technique, pioneered as part of a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa, and backed by the Canadian government and Apple.

The Elysis technology removes the need to use carbon anodes during the smelting process, instead replacing them with proprietary materials, which remain inert during smelting, eliminating direct CO2 emissions.

The aluminium used for the cans comes from Montreal and Saguenay in Canada.