Ricola Low-Carbon Steel Containers

Steel container with Ricola branding / Source: Metropolitant

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5 MINUTE READ

Kaltrina Bylykbashi

WHAT WE SAY:

Collaboration is key to a plastic-free future, and without industry leaders coming together to solve overarching issues, we won’t stem the flow of plastic quickly enough to stop catastrophic climate change impacts. Which is why we’re pleased to see the partnership that’s gone in to making Ricola’s new CO2-reduced steel food container.

This product’s carbon impact has been reduced throughout the entirety of its manufacturing process – from the making of the steel to the production and filling of the cans. Focusing on just one area of a product’s impact isn’t enough. We must look at the process of design holistically.

KEY FACTS:

Swiss-based herbal cough drop and sweet brand Ricola has partnered with steel manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein and metal packaging manufacturer Hoffmann Neopac to create a CO2-reduced Steel food container for its herbal drops.
Launched in May 2022, the container is made with Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein’s certified CO2-reduced steel called Bluemint Steel. This steel minimises the impact of the metal by reducing the amount of coal needed to smelt iron ore and transform it into steel. It’s done by substituting a portion of the traditional iron ore with sponge ore – a previously reduced iron that does not need further reduction by coal to be turned into steel, meaning less coal is required overall. This simple swap has reduced the company’s CO2 emissions per tonne of steel from 2.1 tonnes to 0.6 tonnes.
The Bluemint Steel is transformed into Ricola’s containers by Hoffmann Neopac, who produces and prints the cans using 100% electricity from solar power. Ricola then fills the cans using renewable energy at its distribution centre.
Thanks to steel’s high recycling rate – 88% of the world's steel is recycled at some point in its lifecycle – this container can be easily disposed of in kerbside recycling streams at the end of its life. According to The American Iron and Steel Institute, new steel products contain an average 30% recycled steel, meaning these cans will continue to live on in new forms.

Bluemint Steel production / Source: Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein

Designed for Ricola, Hoffmann The Tin's CO2-reduced steel can / Source: Hoffmann The Tin

DIVE DEEPER:

Steel already stands head and shoulders above plastic as a material of choice. It can be recycled again and again without losing properties, provides barrier properties that reduce food waste, and can be moulded into myriad shapes and sizes.
Ricola’s use of steel for its herbal drops packaging makes sense from a design perspective, but going one step further to address the carbon intensity of that steel puts this innovation ahead of the curve. Global steel manufacturing contributes 8% of total global CO2 emissions each year, and reducing this number is central to the steel industry’s future.
What stands Bluemint Steel apart from more common low-carbon steel is that key properties of steel are not lost in the production process. Low-carbon steel is renowned for making steel more pliable and, therefore, less effective in key industries. Bluemint Steel retains its high grade and offers a longer lifespan.
As a producer of 11 million tonnes of crude steel per year, Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein’s Bluemint Steel is just the beginning of the company’s road towards carbon neutrality. Future goals include the adoption of hydrogen infrastructure to create 100% carbon-neutral steel by 2045. Hydrogen will replace coal entirely in the production process.
Ricola says it joined forces with Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein and Hoffmann Neopac in response to increased demand from consumers who are paying close attention to the carbon footprint of the companies they purchase from.
The scale of this initial launch is not evident, but Hoffmann Neopac claims to have a production capacity of 200 tins per minute.

"New steel products contain an average 30% recycled steel, meaning these cans will continue to live on in new forms."

Iron and Steel Institute

KEY DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:

Single-use vs circularity

The circularity of steel makes it a popular and suitable choice for a range of products, particularly those that cater to a refill and reuse system, so we can't help wondering whether Ricola has missed a trick here. Encasing candies in high-grade, long-lasting packaging seems a little exaggerated. How can you honour steel's longevity and make it a functional feature of your brand and packaging?

Compostable alternatives

Steel is one of the most energy-intensive materials on earth, so Ricola's decision to opt for Bluemint Steel speaks to the drive towards sustainability. However, given the product's relatively brief period of use, could you look to compostable solutions for similar food items? It's worth noting that the majority of Ricola's range is already packaged in paper and cardboard. While CO2-reduced steel containers are a laudable solution for other food and pharmaceutical brands to explore, in the case of Ricola's herbal drops, which don't need rigid packaging, steel seems like an unnecessary leap. Reverting to Paper packaging, as Nestlé has with its Smarties confectionery, is a more appropriate (and affordable) way of delivering on the sustainability demands of consumers.

Plastic features are problematic

Although the can itself is recyclable, the plastic lid that accompanies it is not. While this makes the can resealable, the lid will simply compound our plastic waste problem once the can is disposed of, which is a disappointing feature of an otherwise sustainable packaging solution. Interestingly, Ricola may already have a solution within its roster – travel-size tins featuring a hinged lid, available in duty-free shops. If you choose to work with steel, explore mono-material possibilities with your supplier.

Pivoting to meet consumer demand

Ricola states that the move towards steel packaging was inspired by the growing number of eco-conscious consumers. Paying close attention to the needs and wants of your audience is paramount, and responding to them adds brand value.