Japan to lighten up beer cans

Two of Japan’s biggest beer producers, Sapporo and Suntory, are working together to make cans lighter by designing almost 10% thinner lids. The aim is to cut aluminium usage by up to 3% and consequently reduce wastage and CO₂ emissions.

The move is necessary given that 70% of beer shipped in Japan is sold in aluminium cans, with Sapporo Breweries handling about a billion cans a year. Asahi Group Holdings, Japan's top beer company by market share, is also studying similar projects.

The Sapporo-Suntory project is expected to be completed and launched onto the market by 2022.