Between classic Coca Cola, Coke Zero and Diet Coke, 37.7 billion cans are sold each year (excluding the other cans that are produced and not sold) (gizmodo.com). Think about the aluminum and paint required to produce this unfathomable amount of Coke cans. Here are some numbers (from a simple Google search): 1 empty can = 13.6 grams = 0.0299828677 pounds. .029983 x 37.7 billion cans = 1,130,359,100 pounds of aluminum per year…or, 565, 179.55 tons of aluminum. Painting all of these cans is one of the biggest polluters during Coke’s production process (air and water pollution from its coloring process and then the energy required to separate the paint from the aluminum during a can’s recycling process).
Now I’m not a fan of aluminum cans to begin with, but Coke has definitely taken a step in the right direction. In order to offset the staggering amount of paint required to put Coke’s logo, nutrition facts, ingredients, etc. on each of these cans, Coke has introduced a naked, paint-less can. And to be honest, it looks much more slick than the painted cans that we’ve seen for decades.
The Paint-Less Coke Can
In addition to its slick, modern look, the huge amount of energy and paint required to manufacture colored cans will be saved. Instead of toxic paint, manufacturers process aluminum with a pressing machine that indicates brand identity on the can’s surface (gizmodo.com).
This concept is a milestone in branding. We’re in an age of minimalism. An age of slick, modern designs. Industry leaders should take the initiative in setting socially-responsible and eco-friendly standards. Now, let’s see if this naked-can concept spreads throughout the food & beverage industry.