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One of the most important innovations in packaging is light weighting, which produces a product that is lighter than the material from which it is made. This makes products easier to ship and cuts down on the energy needed to transport them. The beverage industry has long been at the forefront of this movement. Since 1990, we have cut the total weight of packaging for carbonated soft drinks by 40 percent while increasing the number of containers sold by 45 percent.

Lightweighting becomes more important - and impressive - when you consider the solid form of most materials. The average aluminum ingot may weigh as much as 20 tons before it is rolled into sheets for manufacturing! Finding ways to make packaging lighter is good for consumers and for the environment.

Over the last 20 years, Canada has made huge strides in finding ways to reduce, recycle and reuse waste. The refreshment beverage industry continues to play a major role in all three efforts. Since 1979, the weight of 2-litre plastic PET bottles has been reduced by 31 per cent and the weight of aluminum cans by 27%. Virtually all of the packaging the beverage industry uses is either reusable or recyclable. The industry strongly supports the appropriate recycling of beverage packaging through efficient and cost-effective recovery systems.