Can-ification: Aluminium’s Role in Circular Packaging

04 February 2026

Aluminium cans remain one of the most trusted solutions for sustainable beverage packaging, supported by well-established recycling systems in developed markets. Today, emerging technologies are unlocking new levels of compliance and traceability – putting aluminium back in the spotlight as a key driver of circularity. As Russell Wiseman, Head of Global Beverage Solutions, Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) explains, the most powerful sustainability solution for beverage packaging is already in your hand.

Aluminium is the Circular Champion

As beverage brands strive to meet circular economy targets and cut carbon emissions, aluminium’s recyclability and efficiency make it an obvious choice. Unlike PET or glass, aluminium is a true closed-loop material that can be recycled infinitely without losing quality. Global aluminium recycling rates sit at around 75% – outperforming PET bottles (47%) and glass (42%) – which saves an estimated 5.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Regulation is accelerating recycling progress. Under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), aluminium packaging must meet 50% recycling by 2025 and 60% by 2030. In addition, the regulation’s strict design-for-recyclability requirements are inspiring new thinking in product and packaging design. For beverage brands, aluminium isn’t just a packaging choice – it’s a compliance strategy and a reputational asset.

Speed and Accuracy

But sustainability doesn’t stop at the can. Every stage of production matters, including the coding that underpins compliance and traceability at scale. Modern beverage lines often exceed 120,000 cans per hour. At this pace, coding is mission-critical. Errors or issues become expensive very quickly, creating costly recalls, wasted product, and regulatory exposure. Every can must carry accurate traceability information to meet regulatory and retailer requirements.

The industry requires coding technology that supports the needs of fast-moving, sustainability-driven operations. Yet conventional inkjet systems can struggle at these speeds. The resultant excessive use of inks introduces chemical waste, undermining sustainability goals. Furthermore, the inevitable impact on production not only delays output but also adds costs.

Coding for Sustainability

Recent innovations are enabling beverage manufacturers to reconsider their approach to sustainability and compliance. New high-speed, low-waste technologies, such as fibre laser coding, which delivers permanent, high-resolution codes without inks or solvents, allow manufacturers to maintain sustainability without compromising performance throughput.

Breakthrough solutions such as the Beverage Empty Can Coding System (BECCS) from Domino move coding upstream to the empty can stage, creating a significant contribution to waste reduction and operational efficiency. By coding before filling, manufacturers can catch errors early, preventing costly recalls and product loss.

Operationally Effective

BECCS is purpose-built for high-output lines where accuracy, speed, and low waste are non-negotiable. Beyond performance, BECCS enables brands to maintain production traceability and comply with EU labelling requirements, without sacrificing efficiency.

Fibre laser technology also keeps pace with existing high-speed production performance, matching line speeds of 120,000 cans per hour. In addition, integrated vision and rejection systems provide real-time error detection, preventing faulty codes from reaching the market, reducing waste, and minimizing downtime. With a mean time before failure (MTBF) of up to 100,000 hours, these innovative systems also deliver exceptional reliability.

Wiseman comments, "Circularity starts long before a can reaches the shelf. Aluminium offers an infinitely recyclable foundation, but the real progress comes from rethinking every step of production – coding included. Moving traceability upstream and eliminating consumables isn’t just operational efficiency; it’s how we make sustainability practical at scale."

Closing the Loop

Aluminium cans and fibre laser coding create a powerful sustainability partnership. Together, they enable beverage brands to meet circular economy targets, reduce carbon emissions, and maintain production agility. As the industry moves toward 80% global aluminium recovery by 2030 and near-100% by 2050, technologies such as BECCS will play a pivotal role in closing the loop – ensuring that every can is coded accurately, efficiently, and with minimal environmental impact.

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Notes to Editors:

About Domino

Since 1978, Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) has established a global reputation for the development and manufacture of coding, marking, and printing technologies, as well as its worldwide aftermarket products and customer services. Today, Domino offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of complete end-to-end coding solutions designed to satisfy the compliance and productivity requirements of manufacturers across many sectors, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial. The company’s core technologies include innovative inkjet, laser, print and apply, and thermal transfer overprinting systems designed for the application of variable data, barcodes, and unique traceability codes onto product and packaging.

Domino employs over 3,000 people worldwide and sells to more than 120 countries through a global network of 29 subsidiary offices and more than 200 distributors. Domino’s manufacturing facilities are located in China, Germany, India, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the USA.

Domino became an autonomous division within Brother Industries Ltd. on 11th June 2015.

For further information on Domino, please visit www.domino-printing.com or contact:

Alex Challinor
PR and Content Manager
Domino Printing Sciences
Tel: +44 (0) 1954 778780
Alex.Challinor@domino-uk.com

Jamie Robinson
Marketing Generalist
Domino North America
Tel: +1 636-673-3009
jamie.hinton@domino-na.com