A resealable aluminum beverage can has been one of those ideas the industry has chased for decades without ever quite nailing it. A new collaboration between packaging technology startup Canovation and global can manufacturer CANPACK may be about to change.
The two companies announced earlier this month that they have formalized an agreement to advance Canovation’s CanReseal technology toward pilot-scale production and eventual commercial launch. The deal pairs Canovation’s proprietary resealable can-end system with CANPACK’s manufacturing infrastructure and global supply chain reach to validate the technology and test the production line.
Cans have become the dominant format across functional drinks, hard seltzers, and hemp-derived beverages because of their portability, sustainability, and compatibility with high-speed filling operations. Others have tried, but CanReseal is on track to be the first to reach commercial scale using existing infrastructure, rivaling plastic- or glass-resealable options. Once commercial, consumers will have the option to open and finish later. Perfect solution for beverages meant to be sipped over time, a category that includes many hemp and CBD drinks focused on relaxation or sustained effects.
According to Canovation, the system is built to work within existing can manufacturing and filling infrastructure rather than requiring new equipment or processes, which matters considerably for commercial adoption. Beverage producers and co-packers are not going to retrofit their lines for a novelty format. A resealable end that integrates seamlessly into current operations should make for an easy transition.
The company has been developing the technology with support from Stolle Machinery Company, a major supplier of can-making equipment and tooling, which remains involved as CanReseal moves toward pilot implementation. Canovation has also worked through the 100+Accelerator, a sustainability-focused program backed by large consumer goods companies, and has engaged with the REMADE Institute, a public-private partnership focused on circular economy manufacturing.
CANPACK brings considerable weight to the partnership. The company, part of Giorgi Global Holdings, operates in 15 countries and employs around 8,500 people. It manufactures aluminum beverage cans across a range of formats and has existing relationships throughout the global beverage supply chain.
The sustainability angle is worth noting for hemp beverage producers in particular. The sector has put meaningful effort into positioning itself as a wellness and sustainability play, and packaging can now be part of that story for brands trying to appeal to the eco-conscious consumer. Aluminum is already recyclable and retains value through the recycling stream. A resealable aluminum can that eliminates the need for a separate plastic or composite only increases value.
Neither company has announced a commercial launch date. The press release language is measured: the companies expect to complete remaining development activities in the near term and establish pilot operations as a foundation for future commercial deployment. It’s a meaningful step for a technology that has been in development for some time.
For hemp beverage brands watching the packaging landscape, CanReseal is an opportunity to differentiate and is worth following as it moves toward commercial launch.
