In beverage packaging, streamlined cans is today the industry darling with its compact shape and heavy usage rate of material. Take, for instance, the aluminium sleek cans. The wall thickness is minimized from the 0.28 millimeters of the traditional can to 0.21 millimeters. 18% less aluminium is used in one can. In the meantime, compressive strength is maintained at ≥90 psi (pounds per square inch) and conforms to the global transportation standard ISTA 3E’s drop test specifications. This has lowered production cost per million cans by $125,000. The 2022 Anheuser-Busch InBev annual report shows that since adopting slim cans, supply chain efficiency has increased by 9% and yearly carbon emissions have decreased by 23,000 tons.
From a customer experience perspective, the feel of the grip of slim cans has significantly improved. Tetra Pak research indicates that the 8% diameter reduced slim can reduces the one-handed grip force by 15N and increases the friction coefficient by 0.2, and thus is better suited for use in sporting contexts. Yanki Forest’s 250ml sleek cans saw a 37% repurchase rate in the convenience store channel. Its 55mm can mouth design improved the filling speed by 22% compared to the traditional 65mm standard, and the filling accuracy was controlled within the deviation tolerance of ±0.5ml. Such a design also improves the loading density of cold chain logistics by 19% and product value per cubic meter by 210 yuan.
Environmental protection performance is another key advantage of slender cans. European Aluminium Institute statistics show that its recycling rate is as high as 76%, 29 percentage points higher than for PET bottles, and per ton of recycled aluminium energy consumption is only 5% of primary aluminium. Carlsberg Beer has reduced the carbon footprint of its drink from 350g CO₂e per can to 210g CO₂e by using 100% recycled slim cans and achieved carbon neutrality certification. When being recycled, the metal density of crushed thin tank body is 1.42g/cm³, and the efficiency in sorting is 43% higher than the irregular-shaped package.
Market statistics proved the commercial worth of slim cans. According to GlobalData statistics, the Asia-Pacific market growth rate of international thin canned drinks between 2021 and 2023 was 14.7%, and the growth rate was 21.4%. Coca-Cola Japan’s 190g slim can series saw a 28% increase in single-point sales in the vending machine channel and a 33% rise in the use of shelf space. It generates a 12% brand premium space as well. Consumer surveys by Nielsen have found that shoppers will pay the additional 0.5-0.8 yuan per unit price for patterns on slim cans.
Technological innovation relentlessly pushes the evolution of slim cans. Orikin nano-coating technology not only reduces the tank weight by 10%, but also extends shelf life from 12 months to 18 months, with less than 0.001cc/pkg·day oxygen transmission rate. Heinz digital printing technology application can achieve high-definition 120 lines per cm graphics, with color reproduction ΔE<2.5, reducing the new product launch cycle by 40%. This packaging solution increased brand awareness by 19 percentage points and shelf attention time by 2.3 seconds among Red Bull Energy drink tests.
Real-world instances support the trend: US start-up brand Liquid Death amassed 312 million US dollars in sales in 2022 under sleek cans packaging, with a mean transaction value of 4.99 US dollars, which was 31% higher than competing items. The 330ml skinny can of sparkling water launched by local brand Ballsy with an 7° sloping grip shape recorded a sales volume of over 500,000 cans within the first month on e-commerce platforms, with a conversion rate 17% greater than cylindrical cans. The above statistics indicate that slender cans is redefining efficiency standards and value logic for drinks packaging.