“Ball offers AI-based solutions to customers, like QR codes which can facilitate various interactions between brands and their customers and which we can print on cans”, Amit Lahoti, Senior Commercial Director & General Manager – Asia, Ball Beverage Packaging.

AlCircle: “Ball is bringing innovations in sustainable packaging that will help people live more sustainably and improve the health of the planet,” - following the information on your website, may we please ask what are initiatives taken by ball under its sustainability mission?

Amit Lahoti: Ball is a leading manufacturer of aluminium beverage cans, the world's most recycled drinks package. We have a responsibility to our stakeholders and the planet to improve our business's environmental performance, social impact and economic returns and to take a leading role in driving industry-wide solutions to the climate crisis.

Ball has been engaged in sustainability initiatives for many years. Our sustainability vision comprises Product Stewardship and Social Impact. 

For Product Stewardship, we have 2030 targets of achieving a 90 per cent recycling rate for beverage cans and 85 per cent recycled content in the aluminium used to produce them. We’re also aiming for net zero carbon emissions before 2050, reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent and absolute Scope 3 emissions by 16 per cent (against a 2017 baseline). We’re seeking 100 per cent renewable electricity globally by 2030, with an interim target of 75 per cent by 2025. We also want to ensure our packaging products meet the highest material standards to protect human health and the environment. On resource efficiency, we’re targeting reductions of 30 per cent in energy and 50 per cent in water in our operations. We’re committing to 100 per cent of the material we purchase coming from certified sustainable sources.

We are focused on accelerating positive social impacts for our employees and the communities in which we live and work.  Our long-term ambition is to cultivate working environments where all employees feel like they belong, which results in increased productivity and helps us attract a highly diverse and talented workforce.

AlCircle: How is Ball Corporation developing or following the latest technologies in the market?

Amit Lahoti: At Ball, we keep brands at the forefront of the customer experience. Great graphics capture shoppers’ attention and help our customers’ products to stand out on crowded retail shelves. Our unique printing technologies capture and retain consumer attention with engaging visual and tactile experiences. We offer speciality inks, textured over-varnishes, customizable tab types, scannable codes and coloured ends. Ball’s special effects finish enables brands to turn the most imaginative product design into a striking on-shelf reality.

We also offer AI-based solutions to our customers, like QR codes which can facilitate various kinds of interactions between brands and their customers and which we can print on cans.

AlCircle: How do you foresee the growth of the aluminium can industry in India?

Amit Lahoti: The aluminium beverage can industry is at a very nascent stage in India, with growth picking up in the last couple of years. Changing consumer behaviours, driven by an increased focus on hygiene and sustainability, are helping the industry to grow at double digits over the last two years. However, India’s per capita consumption of aluminium beverage cans is very low compared to other developing nations.

AlCircle: Which segment/s are the largest consumers of metal cans for packaging in the beverage industry? What are the new segments which are helping the aluminium can industry to grow?

Amit Lahoti: Currently, the largest consumption of aluminium cans happens in the beer segment, followed by carbonated soft drinks. The ratio could be 85:15, respectively. However, new segments like packaged water, spirits, wine, dairy, energy drinks, etc., are also being packaged in aluminium cans. These would also contribute to the growth of the aluminium can Industry in the near future.

AlCircle: What do you think of Ball Corporation’s overall achievements in trendsetting packaging solutions? Does it have a favourable effect on the industry and society?

Amit Lahoti: Ball is the leading manufacturer of aluminium cans, the world’s most recycled beverage package. We’re supporting our customers’ growth to enable consumers to make more sustainable choices, and we’re working with our industry and communities to increase recycling and recycled content. This avoids 95 per cent of the emissions associated with using virgin metal and is helping to establish a genuinely circular economy.