When you think of the typical scene of a college party, birthday party, sporting event, etc, there are probably those red plastic solo cups in the image somewhere… or everywhere. Well, now that the world is becoming more aware of the problem that plastic pollution is on the planet this image may be a thing of the past, with the plastic red cups being replaced by something else… maybe Ball’s new aluminum cups.
Ball Corporation is the company that supplies aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care, and household products to customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Soda cans, for example, are manufactured by Ball. Now, the company has added another item to the list, cups shaped like the beloved classic red Solo cup… but made out of sustainable aluminum instead of plastic!
John A. Hayes, chairman, president, and CEO said:
As our customers and consumers increasingly seek sustainable beverage packaging options, the launch of the aluminum cup is a significant moment for our company. It is our responsibility as the leader in aluminum beverage packaging to continuously innovate and provide solutions for our customers. We’re excited to bring the aluminum cup to market and expand the product line next year and beyond.
For now, the cups have been launched as a pilot project in select Universities across the country. We will see if frat boys or rowdy tailgaters are actually willing to consider their carbon footprint amid beer-soaked festivities or not. The cups are more expensive than the standard Solo costing around 25 cents each, Hayes told Bloomberg. On the plus side, they don’t break if you squeeze them, they keep your drink cool, and they’re dishwasher safe! So, it might work out after all even having to pay a few extra cents knowing the cup can be reused indefinitely.
However, if you do care about the environment (as you should because you have to live in it for the rest of your life) know that only 9% of plastic is ever recycled, the United Nations Environment Programme said. Aluminum, on the other hand, is one of the most sustainable materials in the world and one of the most recycled materials in America. Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever made in the country is still in use today, according to the Aluminum Association.
With that said, doesn’t it make sense to spend a few extra cents for those reusable aluminum Ball cups instead of single-use plastic ones?
In addition to its sustainability and recycling strengths, durability and pleasant cool-to-the-touch feel – it can be customized with logos and graphics like soda cans. And apparently, according to research conducted by the company: 67% of U.S. consumers say they will visit a venue more often if they use aluminum cups instead of plastic cups and that 78% of consumers expect beverage brands to use environmentally friendly containers in the next five years. So it seems like that scene is likely to change after all… goodbye red, hello shiny metal!
