In a move that could reshape the composite can market in North America, packaging manufacturer Sonoco has launched a fully recyclable, all-paper version of its EnviroCan.
The development follows a 2024 European rollout and comes amid growing pressure on food and beverage producers to shift away from mixed-material packaging that complicates recycling.
The new can replaces the traditional metal bottom with a fiber-based one, creating a container made entirely of recycled paper fiber—90 percent of it sourced from post-consumer materials. The company says the packaging has passed recyclability and re-pulpability testing at Western Michigan University, a leading authority in the field. This makes it suitable for curbside paper recycling systems, in contrast to standard composite cans that often require specialized sorting or end up in landfills.
The North American version of the EnviroCan was adapted from its European predecessor, and Sonoco appears to be targeting the same product categories: dry foods, powdered beverages, snacks, and other shelf-stable goods. The company claims that the new can’s multi-layered recycled paperboard structure provides sufficient durability for shipping and stacking, while barrier coatings inside the can maintain product freshness.
Sonoco was founded in 1899, South Carolina-based Sonoco operates in more than 40 countries and employs over 23,000 people. The company has been gradually expanding its fiber packaging portfolio as part of a broader shift away from petroleum-based materials. More information about Sonoco and its portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions can be found at www.sonoco.com.
