Crown sets out 2020 sustainability goals

The new plant, which is scheduled to become operational in the first quarter of 2017, will include “highly efficient equipment [to] make it one of the most energy efficient beverage can plants in the world,”​ according to Timothy J. Donahue, president and chief executive officer of Crown.

Crown has announced its sustainability goals for 2020 this week, which focus on the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Its key goals are to reduce energy consumption by 5% per billion standard units of production from 2015 levels by the end of 2020; and to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per billion standard units of production from 2015 levels.

Other energy efficiency projects are planned for the year. Last year, 105 emission reduction initiatives were finalized that are expected to save around 10,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ ​each year. As an example, a lighting upgrade program using highly energy-efficient lighting devices and replacement of LED lighting is being carried out across multiple facilities.

The new beverage can plant in Nichols will have the capacity for producing two-piece aluminum cans in a range of sizes. Crown says specialty can sizes are seeing increased demand from brands in the US, from beverage categories including soft drinks, beer, RTD tea, coffee, spirits, sparkling water, wine, juice, cider and nutritional beverages.