Canned water: a sustainable alternative to plastic that is gaining more and more ground. Environmental awareness and numerous bans on single-use plastic are pushing the market towards eco-friendly solutions.

NEW TREND

Responding to consumers’ growing environmental concerns, canned water is gaining traction in supermarkets as an alternative to plastic

Initially used as a reserve during the Second World War, canned water is developing its own market, challenging plastic, traditionally a leader in the sector.

This is a change fueled by growing environmental awareness and increasingly stringent regulation. In fact, thanks to the increase in bans on the use of single-use plastic, companies are exploring valid alternatives.

Aluminium cans are considered a more sustainable packaging choice, with a high recyclability rate.

Investments in this direction are growing, with companies and brands working and committed to environmental protection and sustainability. This growing trend sees a great variety of formulations and flavorings appearing on the market.

Some brands, such as Open Water and Liquid Death, place environmental sustainability at the centre of their corporate identity, while large companies such as PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Co. are entering the canned water market.

However, there are challenges to overcome, such as higher cost and less convenience compared to conventional plastic bottles.

AROUND THE WORLD AND IN ITALY

In the US, the government initially introduced canned water for emergency use; now the market is expanding with the entry of brands like Dash, which are making investments.

The trend is similar in England: canned water is gaining popularity, with brands such as Cano Water and Highland Spring Group offering flavored and sparkling products to meet consumer preferences.

Canned water is also capturing the interest of consumers and investors in Germany. With the increase in bans on single-use plastics and the demand for more sustainable solutions, brands like Mananalu are making their way. Additionally, active partnerships with organizations like rePurpose Global demonstrate a collegial commitment to protecting the environment.

In all three countries, canned water is a tangible response to the need to reduce high-impact single-use plastic bottles and the growing interest in this sector is set to grow.

Even in Italy in recent years, canned mineral water has begun to make space on the shelves, although at the moment it still represents a small niche.

In the past they have introduced San Benedetto canned water (both in 33 cl single-dose format and in natural and carbonated versions) and Spumador Refresco (Eco Recoaro water in 33 cl cans, still and carbonated).

San Benedetto water cans have also successfully made themselves known in the USA.

WITH TOPSYL CAN WATER IS EVEN COOLER

Thanks to the TopSyl patent, the aluminium protection system proposed by the Ecocap’s company, canned water is even more trendy.

In addition to being an ecological, safe and hygienic system, TopSyl allows countless customizations, transforming the can into an extraordinary marketing and communication tool.

Customer engagement, together with data collection, is redefining the beverage market. Jacopo Cassoli, general manager of Ecocap’s, shared his observations at the end of Appex Melbourne.

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT, GROWING ATTENTION

During his recent trip to Australia, on the occasion of Appex – Australasia’s Processing & Packaging Expo where Ecocap’s was present with a booth, Jacopo Cassoli, general manager of the company, had the opportunity to delve into the emerging trends in the beverage sector.

Appex, held in Melbourne from 12 to 15 March, is a highly attractive trade fair, specialized in processing and packaging services, with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of professionals and operators involved.

Among the evidence emerging at a global level, there is the growing attention to customer engagement: “The personalization of the customer experience is gaining relevance and, more and more often, companies are looking for innovative solutions to capture and satisfy this need”, comments Jacopo Cassoli.

In this process, Ecocap’s machinery and the TopSyl patent are strategic tools for the beverage sector: “The results obtained by our partners demonstrate how TopSyl caps offer effective connection and communication opportunities towards their end customers. The versatility and ease of TopSyl customization make it a unique product compared to other packaging solutions on the market. The TopSyl cap allows to collect useful information on consumer preferences, to improve their engagement and to offer personalized and unprecedented experiences each time,” explains Jacopo Cassoli.

TOPSYL BETWEEN FEATURES AND FUTURE TRENDS

Adaptability and flexibility are some of the characteristics that make TopSyl a quality plus.

“It is possible to apply thousands of different graphics in the same production batch, significantly reducing customization costs” specifies Cassoli.

“TopSyl, in addition to guaranteeing hygiene and food safety on all types of cans, responds effectively to global trends in the beverage sector, adapting perfectly to the broadest marketing and market needs, but also to every single internal specificity”.

“Even in the beverage sector, customer engagement together with the collection and analysis of data will become increasingly central and in this scenario companies that are able to offer personalized experiences and build strong relationships with their consumers, through the adoption of innovative solutions, they will have a significant competitive advantage.”

TopSyl is already an excellent response to this challenge.

Chocolate Easter eggs e and colombe in the name of solidarity for the Cassoli Group team.

SOLIDARITY AT EASTER PASSES THROUGH THE ANT FOUNDATION

The professionals of CPS Company, Ecocap’s and Nema Automazione have chosen to rely on the ANT Italia ONLUS Foundation for their chocolate Easter eggs and colombe.

Through a dedicated purchasing group, the Cassoli Group staff was able to contribute to supporting the cause of the Foundation which for years has been dealing with oncology prevention and free specialist home care for cancer patients.

Hygiene, safety, sustainability and communication: these are the elements of TopSyl, the Ecocap’s patent adopted by S. Bernardo for the mineral water that supplies Bologna FC 1909.

Acqua S. Bernardo, with cans protected by TopSyl, hydrates Bologna FC 1909 in the current and in the 2024-25 season. This collaboration highlights the Club’s commitment to providing its athletes and supporters with the best services and products, while underlining Acqua S. Bernardo’s attention to the environment and hygiene.

It is an important partnership that also involves Ecocap’s since S. Bernardo, a company under the control of the Montecristo Group and active in the mineral water and soft drink markets, has adopted the innovative eco-sustainable capsules TopSyl, an international patent by Ecocap’s.

At the basis of this choice is the desire to guarantee the hygiene of the can packaging and to stand out at a marketing level, exploiting all the elements of the can as a communication tool. TopSyl, the sealing system proposed by Ecocap’s, has proven to be the ideal choice to achieve these objectives.

A further advantage of the TopSyl system is its sustainability; TopSyl is in fact a heat-sealed aluminium disk which, not requiring the use of glue, is totally recyclable: a safe, hygienic and 100% eco-friendly solution!

ACQUA S.BERNARDO AND TOPSYL: SUSTAINABILITY AND ATTENTION

Acqua S. Bernardo is a historic brand, known not only for the quality and purity of its mineral water, but also for its constant commitment to environmental sustainability.

The company has adopted important measures to reduce its environmental impact, limiting the use of plastic and investing in green technologies and practices, such as the adoption of TopSyl.

Bernardo water is available not only for the first team, but also for the youth sector and the women’s team. Furthermore, it is present in the hospitality areas of the Renato Dall’Ara stadium.

A commitment to quality, sustainability and attention to hygiene that S. Bernardo, together with TopSyl, makes available to the entire large “rossoblù family”.

A vision, one of solidarity and education, which has always animated the initiatives and activities of the Cassoli Group. With a concrete commitment to serving the local community.

The connection and collaboration with the surrounding community have always been essential elements for the Cassoli Group, which participates on the front line in the construction of careful social sustainability in the contexts in which it operates.

This type of commitment translates into support for organizations such as the Emporio Solidale il Sole, a non-profit association in Casalecchio di Reno, which distributes food aid and provides accompanying measures to assist people in difficulty. 

A support, that of the Cassoli Group, which made it possible to support “Latte al Sole” in 2023, a project which resulted in the purchase of 0 km milk from local farmers, material for packaging the products and to support general expenses of the project for the period of the year.

An attention paid to the community that the Cassoli Group has decided to pursue also in 2024, renewing its proximity to the Emporium, which contributes with its activity to improving the well-being of the local community.

LATTE AL SOLE THE PROJECT SUPPORTED BY CASSOLI GROUP

The Emporio Solidale il Sole supports numerous vulnerable families, providing food, personal and domestic hygiene products, and offering a point of listening and exchange between people.

Among the activities carried out by the structure is the “Latte al Sole” project which was born within the collaboration with the local high schools promoted by the Metropolitan City of Bologna and the Municipality of Casalecchio di Reno.

The Emporio Solidale il Sole purchases milk at zero km from local farmers, helping to support the economy and agriculture of the area. The A. Serpieri Agricultural Institute, thanks to the authorized laboratory present within it, processes milk into products such as yogurt, cheese and similar products.

The process involves students and professors, promoting the achievement of multiple objectives: training of students and their involvement in solidarity activities, combating food poverty, spreading correct lifestyles and combating diseases linked to food poverty.

Finally, the processed products are made available to families in difficulty in the care of Emporio il Sole.

Over the course of the year, the structure has grown by implementing projects such as the creation, within the Institute, of a chicken coop with Bolognese hens that will supply eggs and derived products to the Emporium.

New visibility to cans: TopSyl is the ally that every company wants to spread its personalized communication on the offline market.

TOPSYL BY ECOCAP’S: THE PATENT THAT WORKS

In an increasingly competitive world, differentiation is the key to standing out. With TopSyl of Ecocap’s the perception of the product improved and extremely effective communication campaigns are created. TopSyl also promotes an increase in sales.

Easily applicable to any type and format of canned drink, TopSyl is much more than a protection system.

Made up of a thin protection heat-sealed to the top of the can, TopSyl can be positioned to cover it, without requiring the use of glues.

In addition to guaranteeing hygiene and food safety, TopSyl is a strategic ally in gaining the consumer’s attention. To be added as a new and distinctive element in communication activities, it can be used to personalize the can and transform it into a marketing channel. Thanks to TopSyl, capturing the public’s attention has become easy.

BUILD CUSTOMERS LOYALTY WITH TOPSYL

TopSyl doesn’t stop there. The customization of the can through this innovative seal goes beyond the visual aspect: it translates into a deeper connection with customers by strengthening the brand bond.

In a period in which personalization and customer experience are fundamental, TopSyl stands as the distinctive element that makes marketing campaigns effective and captivating.

Discovering the potential of TopSyl and transforming the appearance of cans to the fullest allows you to enhance the brand image, ensuring quality and a completely new competitive advantage.