Canned Beer (330ml)

A standard aluminum-canned beer represents a complex product with emissions distributed across agricultural production, manufacturing, packaging, and end-use phases. The carbon intensity stems primarily from upstream supply chain activities, with aluminum can production and agricultural inputs driving the majority of lifecycle emissions.

Material Composition Assumptions

The carbon footprint model assumes the following material composition for a typical 330ml canned beer:

• Aluminum can: 11g (3.3% by weight)
• Malted barley: 40g (12.1% by weight)
• Water: 270g (81.8% by weight)
• Hops: 1.5g (0.5% by weight)
• Yeast: 0.8g (0.2% by weight)
• Epoxy/polymer interior coating: 0.7g (0.2% by weight)
• Other additives and processing aids: 6g (1.8% by weight)

Despite representing only a small fraction of total weight, the aluminum can contributes disproportionately to carbon emissions due to the energy-intensive smelting and forming processes required for can production.

Manufacturing Geography

Beer production occurs globally, but this assessment focuses on North American manufacturing patterns where large-scale breweries dominate the canned beer market. The regional electricity grid intensity of 429 gCO2e/kWh significantly influences the carbon footprint of both brewing operations and upstream aluminum production. North America was selected as the baseline region due to the prevalence of aluminum packaging, established recycling infrastructure, and representative agricultural systems for barley cultivation.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
North America	429 gCO2e/kWh	55	Baseline
European Union	295 gCO2e/kWh	48	-13%
China	555 gCO2e/kWh	62	+13%
Nordic Countries	85 gCO2e/kWh	41	-25%
Australia	510 gCO2e/kWh	59	+7%

Provenance Override Guidance

Suppliers can provide the following data types to override the default CCI score with product-specific measurements:

1. Third-party lifecycle assessment report covering cradle-to-gate emissions including all scope 1, 2, and 3 categories
2. Aluminum can specifications including recycled content percentage and supplier-specific carbon footprint data
3. Agricultural sourcing documentation detailing barley origin, farming practices, and transportation distances
4. Brewery energy consumption data with renewable energy certificates and grid emission factors
5. Packaging material certifications showing lightweight design specifications and end-of-life recyclability rates

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions including raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, and packaging but excludes consumer transportation and end-of-life disposal
• Scope 3 emissions dominate at 87% of total footprint, reflecting the supply chain intensive nature of beverage production
• Functional unit is defined as one 330ml aluminum can of beer with standard 4-6% alcohol content
• Regional refrigeration patterns during retail and home storage are included as scope 3 upstream emissions
• Data gaps exist around small-scale craft brewing operations and seasonal variations in agricultural inputs
• Recycling credits are not applied to avoid double-counting with future lifecycle assessments
• The assessment excludes optional secondary packaging such as plastic rings or cardboard carriers