Sumitomo Corporation, Sumisho Metalex, Kobe Steel, Daiwa Can and Suntory Holdings to Produce Low-Emission Green Aluminum Cans for “The Premium Malt’s (Sustainable Aluminum)” Limited-Edition Beer

Sumitomo Corporation, Sumisho Metalex Corporation, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Daiwa Can Company and Suntory Holdings Limited have launched a cross-industrial project to jointly design and produce cans made from green aluminum^*1 under the mass balance approach^*2. Compared with ordinary aluminum cans^*3, the manufacture of the green aluminum-based cans cuts CO₂ emissions by 25%^*4. The cans have been adopted for the limited-edition “The Premium Malt’s”-branded beer to be sold as “The Premium Malt’s (Sustainable Aluminum)” by the Suntory Group. The product will be released across Japan on Tuesday, January 30.

Sumisho Metalex Corporation manages the entire supply chain for the project, Kobe Steel, Ltd. manufactures aluminum coil sheets from green aluminum procured by Sumitomo Corporation, and Daiwa Can Company uses the aluminum sheets to make green aluminum cans and lids toward the commercialization and market release of “The Premium Malt’s (Sustainable Aluminum)” by the Suntory Group across Japan on Tuesday, January 30.

The Sumitomo Corporation Group identified “Mitigation of climate change” as one of the key social issues for the Group and seeks to become carbon neutrality by 2050 and to develop sustainable energy cycles. To this end, we are implementing a range of decarbonization projects in a multifaceted way, including projects to expand the supply of renewable energy through wind, hydraulic and other power generation and to build a circular economy based on a shift to recycling-oriented and resource-saving technologies and products.

Kobe Steel, Ltd., under its 2050 vision stated in the Kobelco Group Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2021–FY2023) announced in May 2021, aims to take on the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality in its production processes and contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions by 100 million tons or more through its technologies, products and services. The Kobelco Group is thus working for providing solutions to the needs of society, including the reduction of CO₂ emissions, aiming to provide value indispensable for its stakeholders on a continual basis by integrating its diverse businesses, technologies and human resources in a unique way.

Daiwa Can Company gives first priority to the protection of the global environment as its environmental philosophy. While pursuing growth as a container manufacturer that gives due consideration to the environment in its business activities, the company will continue to make contributions to society by proactively addressing environment issues. The company regards the implementation of measures against climate change as one of its issues of materiality and aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 45% and Scope 3 emissions by 30% (both relative to FY2015) by 2030. Going forward, the company will strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the reduction targets through the pursuit of optimal materials, processes and transportation methods; the development of optimal products and services; and the enhancement of collaboration with its stakeholders.

As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water, Suntory Group aims to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. To address climate change, the Group aims to reduce GHG emissions from its direct operations by 50%^*5 and those across the value chain by 30%^*5 by 2030 as its Environmental Targets toward 2030 and is globally implementing a range of measures to this end. For containers and packaging, the Group gives due consideration to the environment throughout their life cycle, from the design stage through to transportation and recycling after consumption. Moreover, the Group is taking its unique “2R+B (Reduce/Recycle+Bio)” approach to PET bottles and applying its Plastic Policy in its effort to create a recycling-oriented decarbonized society.

*5 Relative to 2019

The five companies will continue to foster cross-industrial collaboration to identify other areas with potential for joint projects and will implement diverse measures to foster decarbonization and recycling in society.