Shaping a Circular Future: Sustainability Benefits of Aluminium with Chris Smith

Sustainability sits at the core of Orora, and aluminium cans remain one of the most efficient and future fit packaging choices. Chris Smith, Executive General Manager of Orora Cans, shares how the business is driving meaningful impact across a network of five can body manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand.

The Infinitely Recyclable Can

Aluminium's infinite recyclability means the aluminium from a used beverage can could return to consumers in a new can in as little as 180 days. When collected and recycled correctly, aluminium cans move through a well established circular loop back to aluminium mills, where it is re-processed into new aluminium coils, before being returned to Orora’s manufacturing sites to become brand new cans.

Orora applies these same circularity disciplines within our own operations. All aluminium scrap is collected, returned to our partner’s mills, and recycled back into new material. This efficient system reduces waste and reinforces aluminium as one of the world’s most sustainable packaging substrates.

Orora’s Progress in Sustainable Cans

Along with our suppliers and customers, Orora continues to work towards increasing recycled content. In FY25, we achieved 78% recycled content across the aluminium we purchased for cans – well on track to reach our 80% target by 2030.

The majority of our electricity use for our can sites is sourced from renewable sources. Our Rocklea site, is a great example of this. Through our partnership with CleanCo, the site operates using renewable electricity, supported by rooftop solar installations that further boost clean energy use. We’re also reducing water consumption through investments in advanced washers and wastewater treatment systems – helping us reduce the water required to produce a standard can.

Together, these initiatives reflect Orora’s long term commitment to sustainable manufacturing and ensuring aluminium cans continue to grow in popularity for an increasingly sustainability conscious consumer.

Learn more about our promise to the future.